Right coronary artery

Changed by Craig Hacking, 30 Apr 2015

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The right coronary artery is one of the two main coronary arteries ~~and arises from the~~ ~~aorta~~ ~~just above the aortic valve~~. It arises from the right ~~aortic~~coronary sinus as one of only two branches ascending aorta.

Gross anatomy

Supply

The right coronary artery courses to the right in the right atrioventricular groove to, along the anterior surface to the inferior surface of the heart~~, and then (in~~ . In right dominant ~~configuration~~circulation (seen in the majority of people) ~~turns~~, the RCA turns anteriorly asat the crus to become the inferior interventricular artery, hence supplying the inferior 1/2 of the interventricular septum. In ~~left~~people with left dominant ~~hearts this branch~~circulation the inferior inter ventricular artery arises from the left circumflex artery.

Branches

conus artery
sinotubular artery
acute marginal arteries
terminal branches
- inferior interventricular artery also known as posterior descending artery (PDA)
- Posterior left ventricular branch (PLV or PLB)

Variant anatomy

Variations in origin:

from the aorta at or above the sinotubular junction
from the left coronary sinus or left coronary artery where the proximal RCA takes a 'malignant' inter-arterial course in which the vessel is prone to extrinsic compression
In up to 50% of cases there are ~~two ostia~~ ²:
1. ~~large ostium~~separate ostia for the ~~main right coronary artery~~
2. ~~small ostium for a~~RCA and conus artery²

Variations in branching:

PDA and PLV as terminal branches
PDA as the only terminal branch (in which PLV is supplied by the LCx)
Terminates as a acute marginal (in left dominant circulations)

Variations in course:

intra-atrial course
inter-arterial course (due to aberrant origin)

-<p>The <strong>right coronary artery</strong> is one of the two <a href="/articles/coronary-arteries">coronary arteries</a> and arises from the <a href="/articles/aorta">aorta</a> just above the aortic valve from the right aortic sinus.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Supply</h5><p>The right coronary artery courses in the right atrioventricular groove to the inferior surface of the heart, and then (in right dominant configuration) turns anteriorly as the <a href="/articles/inferior-interventricular-artery">inferior interventricular artery</a>. In left dominant hearts this branch arises from the <a href="/articles/left-circumflex-artery">left circumflex artery</a>.</p><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><p>In up to 50% of cases there are two ostia <sup>2</sup>:</p><ol>
~~-<li>large ostium for the main right coronary artery</li>~~
~~-<li>small ostium for a <a href="/articles/conus-artery">conus artery</a>~~
+<p>The <strong>right coronary artery</strong> is one of the two main <a href="/articles/coronary-arteries">coronary arteries</a>. It arises from the right coronary sinus as one of only two branches ascending <a href="/articles/aorta">aorta</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Supply</h5><p>The right coronary artery courses to the right in the right atrioventricular groove, along the anterior surface to the inferior surface of the heart. In <a title="Coronary arteries" href="/articles/coronary-arteries">right dominant </a>circulation (seen in the majority of people), the RCA turns anteriorly at the crus to become the <a href="/articles/inferior-interventricular-artery">inferior interventricular artery</a>, hence supplying the inferior 1/2 of the interventricular septum. In people with left dominant circulation the inferior inter ventricular artery arises from the <a href="/articles/left-circumflex-artery">left circumflex artery</a>.</p><h5>Branches</h5><ul>
+<li>conus artery</li>
+<li>sinotubular artery</li>
+<li>acute marginal arteries</li>
+<li>terminal branches<ul>
+<li>
+<a href="/articles/inferior-interventricular-artery">inferior interventricular artery</a> also known as <a title="Inferior interventricular artery" href="/articles/inferior-interventricular-artery">posterior descending artery (PDA)</a>
~~-</ol>~~
+<li>Posterior left ventricular branch (PLV or PLB)</li>
+</ul>
+</li>
+</ul><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><p>Variations in origin:</p><ul>
+<li>from the aorta at or above the <a title="Sinotubular junction" href="/articles/sinotubular-junction">sinotubular junction</a>
+</li>
+<li>from the left coronary sinus or <a title="LMCA" href="/articles/left-main-coronary-artery-1">left coronary artery</a> where the proximal RCA takes a 'malignant' inter-arterial course in which the vessel is prone to extrinsic compression</li>
+<li>In up to 50% of cases there are separate ostia for the RCA and <a href="/articles/conus-artery">conus artery</a> <sup>2</sup>
+</li>
+</ul><p>Variations in branching:</p><ul>
+<li>PDA and PLV as terminal branches</li>
+<li>PDA as the only terminal branch (in which PLV is supplied by the LCx)</li>
+<li>Terminates as a acute marginal (in left dominant circulations)</li>
+</ul><p>Variations in course:</p><ul>
+<li><a title="intra-atrial course of the RCA" href="/articles/intra-atrial-course-of-the-rca">intra-atrial course</a></li>
+<li>inter-arterial course (due to aberrant origin)</li>
+</ul>

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