Right coronary artery

Changed by Craig Hacking, 30 Apr 2015

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The right coronary artery(RCA) is one of the two main coronary arteries. It arises from that supply the right coronary sinus as one of only two branches ascending heart with oxygenated blood.

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

Variant anatomy

Variations in origin
  • Origin

    The RCA arises

    from the aorta at or above the sinotubular junction
  • from the leftright coronary sinus or left coronary artery where the proximal RCA takes a 'malignant' inter-arterial course in whichas one of only two branches from the vessel is prone to extrinsic compression
  • In up to 50% of cases there are separate ostia for the RCA andascending aorta2
.
VariationsCourse

The RCA courses to the right in branchingthe right atrioventricular groove, along the anterior surface to the inferior surface of the heart.

  • PDA and PLVIn people with right dominant circulation (seen in the majority of people), the RCA turns anteriorly at the crux to become the inferior interventricular artery.
  • In people with left dominant circulation the RCA peters out usually as terminal branches
  • PDA as the only terminal branch (in which PLV is supplied by the LCx)
  • Terminates as aan acute marginal (in artery and the inferior interventricular artery usually arises from the left dominant circulations)circumflex artery.
Variations in courseBranches
Supply

TBC

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 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 an acute marginal branch (in left dominant circulations)

Variations in course:

See main article: congenital coronary artery anomalies.

  • -<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>
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  • +</style>
  • +<![endif]--><!--StartFragment--></p><p>The <strong>right coronary artery</strong> <strong>(RCA) </strong>is one of the two main <a href="/articles/coronary-arteries">coronary arteries</a> that supply the <a href="/articles/heart">heart</a> with oxygenated blood.</p><h4><strong>Gross anatomy</strong></h4><h5><strong>Origin</strong></h5><p>The RCA arises from the right coronary sinus as one of only two branches from the ascending <a href="/articles/aorta">aorta</a>.</p><h5><strong>Course</strong></h5><p>The RCA courses to the right in the right atrioventricular groove, along the anterior surface to the inferior surface of the heart.</p><ul>
  • +<li>In people with <strong>right dominant </strong>circulation (seen in the majority of people), the RCA turns anteriorly at the crux to become the inferior interventricular artery.</li>
  • +<li>In people with <strong>left dominant</strong> circulation the RCA peters out usually as an acute marginal artery and the inferior interventricular artery usually arises from the <a href="/articles/left-circumflex-artery">left circumflex artery</a>.</li>
  • +</ul><h5><strong>Branches</strong></h5><ul>
  • -<li>terminal branches<ul>
  • +<li>terminal branches</li>
  • -<a href="/articles/inferior-interventricular-artery">inferior interventricular artery</a> also known as <a href="/articles/inferior-interventricular-artery">posterior descending artery (PDA)</a>
  • +<a href="/articles/inferior-interventricular-artery">inferior interventricular artery</a> also known as <a href="/articles/inferior-interventricular-artery">posterior descending artery (PDA)</a>
  • -<li>posterior left ventricular branch (PLV or PLB)</li>
  • -</ul>
  • -</li>
  • -</ul><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><h5>Variations in origin</h5><ul>
  • +<li>Posterior left ventricular branch (PLV or PLB)</li>
  • +</ul><h5><strong>Supply</strong></h5><p>TBC</p><h4><strong>Variant anatomy</strong></h4><p>Variations in origin:</p><ul>
  • -<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>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>
  • -</ul><h5>Variations in branching</h5><ul>
  • +</ul><p>Variations in branching:</p><ul>
  • -<li>Terminates as a acute marginal (in left dominant circulations)</li>
  • -</ul><h5>Variations in course</h5><ul>
  • -<li><a href="/articles/intra-atrial-course-of-the-right-coronary-artery">inter-atrial course</a></li>
  • +<li>Terminates as an acute marginal branch (in left dominant circulations)</li>
  • +</ul><p>Variations in course:</p><ul>
  • +<li>
  • +<a href="/articles/intra-atrial-course-of-the-rca">intra-atrial course</a> (figure 1)</li>
  • -</ul>
  • +</ul><p>See main article: <a href="/articles/congenital-coronary-artery-anomalies">congenital coronary artery anomalies</a>.</p><p><!--EndFragment--></p>

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