Angina is caused by diseased coronary arteries. 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. When the arteries become blocked to the point that they can no longer supply the heart with adequate oxygen (often during physical activity), the result is angina.
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:
