Coronary arteries are vessels that provide oxygen-rich blood and
other nutrients to the heart muscle. The two main coronary blood vessels, which
branch from the body's main artery (aorta), are the right coronary artery (RCA)
and the left coronary artery (LCA).
The coronary arteries attach to and wrap around the heart's
surface. The left side of the heart is larger and more muscular because it
pumps blood to the rest of the body. The left coronary artery branches off into
smaller arteries, the most prominent of which are the:
- Left anterior descending artery, which supplies
blood to the front of the heart.
- Left circumflex artery, which
encircles the heart muscle, supplying blood to the back of the heart.
The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs and related
structures. The right marginal branch usually extends from the right coronary
artery and supplies blood to the lower right side of the heart.
