Coronary Circulation and Conduction Flashcards
Learning outcomes
- Describe the origin, course and distribution of the coronary arteries
- Explain the importance of the anastomoses between the coronary arteries
- Describe the venous drainage of the heart
- Describe the anatomical position of the conducting system of the heart and how it controls heart rate
- List the arteries that supply the conduction system of the heart
- Describe the autonomic innervation of the heart
- Discuss the effects of ischaemia of the myocardium and how it may affect the conducting system
- Explain where pain originating from the heart is referred to and why
- Identify major branches of coronary arteries on angiograms
Spit some facts about the heart
It never sleeps (hopefully!). • How is it innervated? It changes gear. • Who/what controls this? How? It cannot use the oxygenated blood in its chambers • Why? • Is it “all truth and nothing but the truth”? Has its own very reliable blood supply
Describe cardiac muscle
striated but involuntary
Fibres branch and join with each other with intercalated discs
work as a single functional organ or syncytium
synchronized contraction
does not tetanize
What are the 5 different effects that can be had on the heart?
Chronotropy Dromotropy (conduction) Bathmotropy (excitability) Inotropy (contractility) Lusitropy (relaxation)
Describe the course of the blood supply to the heart
Supplied by coronary arteries and their branches
Right coronary artery (RCA)
Left coronary artery (LCA)
The endocardium receives oxygen and nutrients directly from the chambers of the heart
Describe the source of the coronary arteries
Are the only branches of the ascending aorta
Emerge in aortic sinuses
Describe the right coronary artery
Arises from the right aortic sinus
SA nodal branch
Supplies the SA node of the conduction system
Atrial branches supply the right atrium
Right (acute) marginal branch
Usually gives off the posterior
interventricular branch
(aka posterior descending artery)
Anastomoses with branches of Left coronary artery at the apex
Describe the left coronary artery
LEFT MAIN STEM
Arises from the left aortic sinus between left auricle and the pulmonary trunk
Shorter but thicker than right coronary artery
Enters the coronary sulcus
Divides into circumflex and anterior interventricular branches
Anterior interventricular branch (left anterior descending, LAD)
− Supplies the sternocostal surface
− Anastomoses with posterior interventricular branch of RCA at the apex
− “Artery of sudden death”
Circumflex branch
Left (obtuse) marginal branch
Anastomoses with the branches of RCA
Summarise coronary blood supply in regards to the RCA and its branches
Walls of RA and RV
Sino-atrial and Atrioventricular nodes
Posterior part of interventricular septum (proximal portion of atrioventricular bundle of His)
Small areas of the walls of LA and LV
Summarise coronary blood supply in regards to the LCA and its branches
Walls of LA, LV
Most of the interventricular septum including part of the atrioventricular (AV) bundle
What is coronary dominance?
The artery that gives off the posterior interventricular/posterior descending artery determines the coronary dominance
In ~80% of the people RCA is dominant
Where are the most likely places for a myocardial infarction to occur?
- LAD 40-50%
- RCA30-40%
- Circumflex 15-20%
How may a MI damage the conduction system of the heart?
• LAD (septal branches) supplies AV bundles • RCA supplies both SA and AV nodes • Heart block (bradycardia)
What are potential sources of vessels for CABG?
Internal thoracic artery
(Internal Mammary Artery (LIMA))
Great Saphenous Vein***
What is CABG?
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Bypass of the occluded portion of the vessel in a myocardial infarction