A Study On Variation In The Termination Of Right And Left Coronary Arteries And Their Clinical Significance

Aim: This current study is done to throw light upon the, distribution and termination of right coronary artery andleft anterior descending branch of left coronary artery and to correlate the clinical significance of the variationsobservedMaterials and methods: 30 human hearts from the embalmed cadavers from Department of Anatomy, GreatEastern Medical School were collected during routine dissection. The heart is taken out after incising the fibrouspericardium and great vessels .The course of right and left coronary arteries were traced from the Ostia. Thespecimens were duly numbered, preserved in 5% formaldehyde solution. Photographs of each specimen weretaken by digital camera and the arterial pattern is coloured red digitally and labeled.Results: In the present study the right coronary artery terminates at crux or beyond the crux in 57%, before cruxin 23% and right border in 13%. Left anterior descending artery terminates beyond apex in the lower 1/3rd of theinter-ventricular groove in 87% and at the apex in 13%.Conclusion: Right and left coronary arteries showed significant variation in their mode of termination. Betteranatomical knowledge about the branches of coronary artery and its variation is essential for cardiologists andinterpretation of coronary angiograms by radiologist.