The coronary arteries are the arterial vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the myocardium, the muscular wall of the heart. They arise from the aortic root just above the aortic valve as the left and right coronary arteries; the left coronary artery typically divides into the left anterior descending and circumfl…
The coronary arteries are the arterial vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the myocardium, the muscular wall of the heart. They arise from the aortic root just above the aortic valve as the left and right coronary arteries; the left coronary artery typically divides into the left anterior descending and circumflex branches, while the right coronary artery supplies the right heart and, in most individuals, portions of the inferior and posterior walls. Considerable anatomical variation exists in the origin, course, branching, and dominance of these vessels, and patterns such as intercoronary continuity can influence the distribution of perfusion and the behavior of disease. Because the myocardium depends almost entirely on coronary flow, adequate luminal patency is essential to cardiac function. Coronary artery disease results from the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque within the vessel wall, a process in which the deposition of low-density lipoprotein and local hemodynamic and geometric factors contribute to lesion formation; progressive luminal narrowing or occlusion restricts blood supply and produces myocardial ischemia, angina, and, when flow is abruptly interrupted, infarction, and it can affect even younger patients. Evaluation relies on identifying the culprit vessel and assessing lesion severity, while revascularization through percutaneous coronary intervention, including treatment of complex chronic total occlusions, restores myocardial perfusion.
11 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 11 articles above have been cited 25 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Coronary Arteries, linking to each citing work.