| Left coronary artery | |
|---|---|
 Heart viewed from above, atria removed, base of ventricles exposed. Left coronary artery visible at left. | |
 Heart viewed from the front. Coronary arteries (labeled in red text) and other major landmarks (in blue text). Left coronary artery is at upper right in the image. | |
| Details | |
| Source | ascending aorta |
| Branches |
|
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | arteria coronaria sinistra |
| TA98 | A12.2.03.201 |
| TA2 | 4142 |
| FMA | 50040 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The left coronary artery (LCA, also known as the left main coronary artery, or left main stem coronary artery) is a coronary artery that arises from the aorta above the left cusp of the aortic valve, and supplies blood to the left side of the heart muscle. The left coronary artery typically runs for 10–25 mm, then bifurcates into the left anterior descending artery, and the left circumflex artery.[1]
The part that is between the aorta and the bifurcation only is known as the left main artery (LM), while the term "LCA" might refer to just the left main, or to the left main and all its eventual branches.
Structure
Variation
Sometimes, an additional artery arises at the bifurcation of the left main artery, forming a trifurcation; this extra artery is called the ramus or intermediate artery.[2]
A "first septal branch" is sometimes described.[3]
Additional images
Left coronary artery
Cardiac vessels
The aortic arch and its branches
Diagram of the arch
Human heart with coronary arteries
Heart left lateral coronaries diagram
Diagram of a myocardial infarction
A coronary angiogram that shows the LMCA, LAD, and LCX
Autopsy specimen showing the coronary ostia and proximal segments of the coronary arteries. Compare with Gray's Anatomy drawing above.
Left coronary artery
Left coronary artery. Plastination technique
Left coronary artery. Plastination technique
See also
- Coronary circulation
- Pete Maravich – American basketball player whose congenital lack of a left coronary artery lead to his death at age 40
References
- ↑ Laird, Robert J.; Irwin, Scot (2004-01-01), Irwin, Scot; Tecklin, Jan Stephen (eds.), "Chapter 1 - Cardiovascular Structure and Function", Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy (Fourth Edition), Saint Louis: Mosby, pp. 3–38, doi:10.1016/b978-032301840-1.50005-0, ISBN 978-0-323-01840-1, retrieved 2020-11-20
- ↑ Fuster, V; Alexander RW; O'Rourke RA (2001). Hurst's The Heart (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill. p. 53. ISBN 0-07-135694-0.
- ↑ Verna E, Santarone M, Boscarini M, Ghezzi I, Repetto S (June 1988). "Unusual origin and course of the first septal branch of the left coronary artery: angiographic recognition". Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 11 (3): 146–9. doi:10.1007/BF02577106. PMID 3139296. S2CID 20395578.
External links
- Anatomy figure: 20:03-01 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center – "Anterior view of the heart."
- 00463 at CHORUS