The coronary arteries supply the heart muscle with blood, which carries oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.
The three main coronary arteries are:
- Right coronary artery
- Left coronary artery
- Posterior circumflex artery
Anatomy examples:
- Coronary angiogram
- Front view of the heart and coronary arteries
- Back view of the heart and coronary arteries
The coronary arteries become blocked by a process known as
atherosclerosis, which is also called
hardening of the arteries.
The process of
atherosclerosis includes:
- The inner wall of the artery becomes damaged by changes in blood flow, infection, smoking, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
- As the wall or the artery attempts to repair itself, cholesterol builds up on the inside surface of the artery, forming a plaque.
- Plaques narrow the inside of the arteries, which reduces blood flow. This can lead to blood clot formation inside the vessel.
Examples:
