open access

Vol 76, No 4 (2017)
Original article
Submitted: 2016-08-29
Accepted: 2016-10-06
Published online: 2017-05-15
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Anatomic study of the morphology of the right and left coronary arteries

S. Singh, N. Ajayi, L. Lazarus, K. S. Satyapal
·
Pubmed: 28553856
·
Folia Morphol 2017;76(4):668-674.

open access

Vol 76, No 4 (2017)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2016-08-29
Accepted: 2016-10-06
Published online: 2017-05-15

Abstract

Arising from the aorta, the right (RCA) and left (LCA) coronary arteries provide the arterial supply to both the atria and the ventricles of the heart. An extensive literature review revealed that most studies have either evaluated the morphology of the RCA or the LCA independently. This study aimed to document the relationship between the morphology of the RCA and LCA using coronary angiograms. In addition, variations such as split or double RCA and an absent LCA were documented. A review of 500 coronary angiograms was conducted and the RCA and LCA were classified according to their branching patterns and arterial dominance. The most prevalent branching pattern of the LCA was bifurcation (in 65.8%; 329/500), while trifurcation and quadrifurcation occurred in 20.4% (102/500) and 1.6% (8/500), respectively. The LCA was absent in 11.8% (59/500) of cases with the bifurcation and trifurcation of its branches in 10.8% (54/500) and 1.4% (7/500), respectively. The splitting of the RCA occurred in 4.2% (21/500) of the angiograms. A split RCA with concomitant absent LCA was documented in 1.2% (6/500) of the angiograms. The RCA and LCA were dominant in 77.2% (386/500) and 9.8% (49/500) of cases, respectively, whereas co-dominance occurred in 13% (65/500) of the sample examined. In most cases where a split RCA was present, the RCA was found to be non-dominant. With the advent of coronary arteriography, a comprehensive understanding of coronary arterial anatomy and their anomalies has become essential.

Abstract

Arising from the aorta, the right (RCA) and left (LCA) coronary arteries provide the arterial supply to both the atria and the ventricles of the heart. An extensive literature review revealed that most studies have either evaluated the morphology of the RCA or the LCA independently. This study aimed to document the relationship between the morphology of the RCA and LCA using coronary angiograms. In addition, variations such as split or double RCA and an absent LCA were documented. A review of 500 coronary angiograms was conducted and the RCA and LCA were classified according to their branching patterns and arterial dominance. The most prevalent branching pattern of the LCA was bifurcation (in 65.8%; 329/500), while trifurcation and quadrifurcation occurred in 20.4% (102/500) and 1.6% (8/500), respectively. The LCA was absent in 11.8% (59/500) of cases with the bifurcation and trifurcation of its branches in 10.8% (54/500) and 1.4% (7/500), respectively. The splitting of the RCA occurred in 4.2% (21/500) of the angiograms. A split RCA with concomitant absent LCA was documented in 1.2% (6/500) of the angiograms. The RCA and LCA were dominant in 77.2% (386/500) and 9.8% (49/500) of cases, respectively, whereas co-dominance occurred in 13% (65/500) of the sample examined. In most cases where a split RCA was present, the RCA was found to be non-dominant. With the advent of coronary arteriography, a comprehensive understanding of coronary arterial anatomy and their anomalies has become essential.

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Keywords

right coronary artery, left coronary artery, split right coronary artery, absent left coronary artery

About this article
Title

Anatomic study of the morphology of the right and left coronary arteries

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 76, No 4 (2017)

Article type

Original article

Pages

668-674

Published online

2017-05-15

Page views

1719

Article views/downloads

2171

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2017.0043

Pubmed

28553856

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2017;76(4):668-674.

Keywords

right coronary artery
left coronary artery
split right coronary artery
absent left coronary artery

Authors

S. Singh
N. Ajayi
L. Lazarus
K. S. Satyapal

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