Anatomy Flashcards
Describe the anatomy of the LAD.
- Courses anteriorly and inferiorly in the anterior interventricular groove towards the apex
- Occasionally, the LAD continues around the apex to supply part of the posterior interventricular groove
Define the 4 different types of LAD.
Type 1: does not supply the LV apex
Type 2: the LAD and right coronary both supply the apex
Type 3: supplies the entire apex
Type 4: supplies the apex and >25% of the inferior wall (wraps around)
What are the main branches of the LAD?
- Diagonal arteries (2-6) course along and supply the anterolateral wall of the LV
- Septal perforators (3-5) branch perpendicularly into and supply the anterior 2/3s of the ventricular septum
- RV branches which supply blood to the anterior surface of the RV (not always present)
What is clinically relevant about the first septal perforator?
The first septal artery is the largest and runs perpendicularly towards the medial papillary muscle of the TV. *It is at risk during the Ross procedure because it lies immediately beneath the RVOT and pulmonary valve
How is the LAD divided?
- Proximal 1/3: origin of the LAD to the origin of the first septal artery
- Middle 1/3: first septal artery to the origin of the last diagonal artery
- Distal 1/3: last diagonal artery to the termination of the LAD
Describe the anatomy of the circumflex coronary artery.
- Courses along the left AV groove and in 85-90% of patients terminates before reaching the posterior interventricular groove
- In 10-15% of patients the circumflex continues as the PDA.
What are the main branches of the circumflex coronary artery?
- Obtuse marginal arteries supply the lateral aspect of the LV wall, including the anterolateral papillary muscle of the MV
- LA branches
- SA nodal artery (45%)
- AV nodal artery (10-15%)
- PDA (10-15%)
Describe the anatomy of the RCA.
- Courses anteriorly and laterally from its origin, descending in the right AV groove and inferiorly towards the acute margin of the RV
- Courses around to the inferior surface as the PDA and continues as the posterior LV artery
What are the main branches of the RCA?
- SA nodal artery (55%)
- Conus branch that courses anteriorly over the right ventricular infundibulum
- Acute marginal branch that courses over the acute margin of the RV
- Anterior RV branches that supply the anterior free wall of the RV
- AV nodal artery (85-90%)
- PDA (85-90%), runs in the posterior interventricular groove and gives off septal perforator arteries which branch perpendicularly and supply the posterior 1/3 of the ventricular septum
- Posterior LV artery that supplies the posterior surface of the LV
How is dominance of the coronary artery system determined?
- Refers to the artery from which the PDA and PLV originate from
- Right dominant system occurs in 80-85%
- Left dominant system 10-15% (more common in males and BAV)
- Co-dominant 5%
Describe the coronary venous drainage system.
- Majority drain via the coronary sinus into the RA
- Coronary sinus is a continuation of the great cardiac vein
- Coronary sinus is demarcated by the valve of Vieussens and entry of the oblique vein of the LA
What are the anatomical locations of the main coronary veins and their artery counterparts?
- Coronary sinus - left AV groove, circumflex
- Great cardiac vein - anterior interventricular groove into the left AV groove, LAD + circumflex
- Middle cardiac vein - posterior interventricular groove, PDA
- Small cardiac vein - right AV groove, RCA + acute marginal artery
Describe the conduction system.
Consists of the
(1) SA node
(2) AV node
(3) bundle of His
(4) bundle branches
(5) Purkinje fibers
Where is the SA node?
Found in the upper part of the wall of the RA, just lateral to the sinus venarum at the junction where the SVC enters the RA
Where is the AV node?
Lies near the opening of the coronary sinus, located at the center of Koch’s triangle.
Where is the bundle of His?
Penetrates the central fibrous body to reach the membranous septum to lie on the crest of the muscular ventricular septum beneath the right and non-coronary cusps of the AV
Describe the left and right bundle branch.
LBB, divides into anterior and posterior fascicles that run sub-endocardially down the septal surface of the LV to the apex
RBB which runs on the right side of the ventricular septum towards the base of the medial papillary muscle of the TV into the body of the septomarginal trabeculation and traversing the RV cavity through the moderator band
What is the blood supply of the SA node?
The SA nodal artery originates from the RCA in 55% of patients and the circumflex in 45% of patients
The SA nodal artery passes in front of the junction between the SVC and RA roof in 60% of patients, behind the junction in 33% and around the junction in 7%
Describe the location of the AV node.
The AV node lies within the triangle of Koch
The boundaries of the triangle of Koch include; (1) tendon of Todaro (2) hinge of the septal leaflet of the TV (3) superior margin of the coronary sinus
The membranous septum lies just superior to the triangle of Koch and is where the bundle of His penetrates to enter the muscular septum
What is the blood supply of the AV node?
The AV nodal artery supplies the node and originates from the RCA in 85-90% of patients with the remaining 10-15% originating from the circumflex.
Describe the anatomy of the aortic valve.
- Three semilunar leaflets (RCC, LCC, NCC)
- Nodule of Arantius = thickened free edge of the leaflet
- Leaflets coapt at the free edge of their ventricular surface
- Commissures are the points of contact between the leaflets on the aortic wall