Artery: Anterior interventricular branch of left coronary artery
Sternocostal surface of heart. (Anterior descending branch labeled at upper right.)
The arch of the aorta, and its branches.
Latin	ramus interventricularis anterior arteriae coronariae sinistrae
Gray's	subject #142 547
Supplies	anterolateral myocardium, apex, interventricular septum, 45-55% of the left ventricle (LV)
Source	left coronary artery
Branches	septals, diagonals

The "LAD", or left anterior descending artery (or anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery, or anterior descending branch) is an artery of the heart.

Contents 1 Course 2 Supply 3 Branches 4 Additional images 5 External links

[edit] Course

It passes at first behind the pulmonary artery and then comes forward between that vessel and the left auricula to reach the anterior interventricular sulcus, along which it descends to the incisura apicis cordis.

In 78% of cases, it reaches the apex of the heart.

[edit] Supply

It supplies the anterolateral myocardium, apex, and interventricular septum. The LAD typically supplies 45-55% of the left ventricle (LV).

[edit] Branches

The LAD gives off two types of branches: septals and diagonals.

• Septals originate from the LAD at 90 degrees to the surface of the heart, perforating and supplying the interventricular septum.
• Diagonals run along the surface of the heart and supply the lateral wall of the left ventricle and the anterolateral papillary muscle.

[edit] Additional images

Heart attack

Cardiac vessels

Human heart with coronary arteries

Heart coronary territories

[edit] External links

• anterior+interventricular+branch%20of%20left%20coronary%20artery at eMedicine Dictionary
• SUNY Labs 20:09-0102 - "Heart: The Left Coronary Artery and its Branches"
• SUNY Figs 20:03-08 - "Anterior view of the heart."
• 168165435 at GPnotebook

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

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v • d • e List of arteries of torso · chest (TA A12.2.01-04,11, GA 6.598) Pulmonary/ coronary Right coronary: SA nodal · AV nodal · Atrial · Right marginal · Posterior interventricular Left coronary: Anterior interventricular · Left circumflex (Left marginal) Ascending aorta/ aortic arch Brachiocephalic Thyreoidea ima · Right subclavian · Right common carotid Left common carotid External carotid · Internal carotid Carotid body · Carotid sinus · Carotid bifurcation Left subclavian Internal thoracic: Anterior intercostal · Thymic · Pericardiacophrenic · terminal (Musculophrenic, superior epigastric) Costocervical trunk: Highest intercostal (Posterior intercostal 1-2) · Deep cervical Other Aortic body Descending/ thoracic aorta visceral: Bronchial · Esophageal · Mediastinal parietal: Posterior intercostal 3·11 · Subcostal · Superior phrenic