Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle. Like all other tissues in the body, the heart muscle needs oxygen-rich blood to function, and oxygen-depleted blood must be carried away. The coronary arteries run along the outside of the heart and have small branches that supply blood to the
heart muscle. The 2 main coronary arteries are the left main and right coronary arteries. Left main coronary artery (LMCA). The left main coronary artery supplies blood to the left side of the heart muscle (the left ventricle and left atrium). The left main coronary artery divides into branches: The left anterior descending artery branches off the left coronary artery and
supplies blood to the front of the left side of the heart. The circumflex artery branches off the left coronary artery and encircles the heart muscle. This artery supplies blood to the lateral side and back of the heart. Right coronary artery (RCA). The right coronary artery supplies blood to the right ventricle, the right atrium, and the SA (sinoatrial) and AV (atrioventricular) nodes, which regulate the heart rhythm. The
right coronary artery divides into smaller branches, including the right posterior descending artery and the acute marginal artery. Additional smaller branches of the coronary arteries include the obtuse
marginal (OM), septal perforator (SP), and diagonals. Since coronary arteries deliver blood to the heart muscle, any coronary artery disorder or disease can reduce the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the heart, which may lead to a heart attack and possibly death. Atherosclerosis is inflammation and a
buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery causing it to narrow or become blocked. It is the most common cause of heart disease. What is coronary artery disease?Coronary heart disease, or coronary artery disease (CAD), is characterized by inflammation and the buildup of and fatty deposits along the innermost layer of the coronary arteries. The fatty deposits may develop in childhood and continue to thicken and enlarge throughout the life span. This thickening, called atherosclerosis, narrows the arteries and can decrease or block the flow of blood to the heart. The American Heart Association estimates that over 16 million Americans suffer from coronary artery disease--the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S. What are the risk factors for coronary artery disease?Risk factors for CAD often include:
Controlling risk factors is the key to preventing illness and death from CAD. What are the symptoms of coronary artery disease?The symptoms of coronary heart disease will depend on the severity of the disease. Some people with CAD have no symptoms, some have episodes of mild chest pain or angina, and some have more severe chest pain. If too little oxygenated blood reaches the heart, a person will experience chest pain called angina. When the blood supply is completely cut off, the result is a heart attack, and the heart muscle begins to die. Some people may have a heart attack and never recognize the symptoms. This is called a "silent" heart attack. Symptoms of coronary artery disease include:
How is coronary artery disease diagnosed?In addition to a complete medical history and physical exam, tests for coronary artery disease may include the following:
Treatment for coronary heart diseaseTreatment may include:
What happens when the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen?If the blood and oxygen supply is cut off, muscle cells of the heart begin to suffer damage and start to die. Irreversible damage begins within 30 minutes of blockage. The result is heart muscle affected by the lack of oxygen no longer works as it should.
What happens when heart muscle is damaged?Damaged muscles disrupt electrical signals that control the heart. Some arrhythmias, such as tachycardia, are mild and cause symptoms such as: palpitations – the sensation of your heart pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly, felt in your chest or throat. chest pain.
Which of the following is the way in which the heart muscle receives oxygen?Which of the following is the way in which the heart muscle receives oxygen? Blood from the pulmonary vein enters capillaries in the myocardium.
Which of the following is a condition that can result from fatty deposits forming in the inner lining?Key points of atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery. Risk factors may include high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, obesity, physical activity, and eating saturated fats.
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