Right coronary artery

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The right coronary artery is one of the two main coronary arteries. It arises from the right 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, along the anterior surface to the inferior surface of the heart. In right dominant circulation (seen in the majority of people), the RCA turns anteriorly at the crus to become the inferior interventricular artery, hence supplying the inferior 1/2 of the interventricular septum. In people with left dominant 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 separate ostia for the RCA and conus artery ²

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

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

-<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><p>Gross anatomy</p><p>Supply</p><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 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><p>Branches</p><ul>
+<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 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>
~~-</ul><p>Variant anatomy</p><p>Variations in origin</p><ul>~~
+</ul><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><h5>Variations in origin</h5><ul>
~~-</ul><p>Variations in branching</p><ul>~~
+</ul><h5>Variations in branching</h5><ul>
~~-</ul><p>Variations in course</p><ul>~~
+</ul><h5>Variations in course</h5><ul>

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