13/10/2026
Continuing the celebrations head to toe, now moving down to the heart! This vital organ pumps the blood, making it possible to oxygenate every part of the body. However, the heart also needs blood supply, which it gets through coronary circulation.
Right coronary artery (RCA), from the right aortic sinus:
🫀 SA nodal branch → SA node
🫀 Right marginal branch → right heart border
🫀 AV branch → AV node
🫀 Posterior IV branch → both ventricles + posterior ⅓ of septum
Left coronary artery (LCA), from the left aortic sinus:
🫀 LAD (anterior IV branch) → both ventricles + anterior ⅔ of septum; gives off the lateral branch; anastomoses with the posterior IV branch at the apex
🫀 Circumflex branch → gives left marginal branch → left ventricle
Why's this important in clinical settings? If any coronary artery gets blocked with an embolus, the part of the heart that the occluded artery supplies stops receiving blood. Necrosis can then develop, which results in myocardial infarction (heart attack). The most commonly occluded arteries are the LAD, RCA, and LCA.
🫀 RCA occlusion → right atrium, parts of both ventricles, posterior ⅓ septum, SA/AV nodes
🫀 LCA occlusion → left atrium, parts of both ventricles, AV bundle, anterior ⅔ septum
Think you know this by heart? Take this week's pop anatomy quiz for a chance to win free Osmosis and Complete Anatomy: http://spkl.io/61877n9oU