Artery: Left coronary artery
Base of ventricles exposed by removal of the atria. (Left coronary artery visible at left.)
The arch of the aorta, and its branches.
Latin	arteria coronaria sinistra
Gray's	subject #142 547
Source	ascending aorta
Branches	anterior interventricular circumflex (ramus intermedius)

The left coronary artery, abbreviated LCA and also known as the left main coronary artery (often abbreviated LMCA), arises from the aorta above the left cusp of the aortic valve.

Contents 1 Branching 2 Additional images 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Branching

It typically runs for 1 to 25 mm and then bifurcates into the anterior interventricular artery (also called left anterior descending (LAD)) artery and the left circumflex artery (LCX). Sometimes an additional artery arises at the bifurcation of the left main artery, forming a trifurcation; this extra artery is called the intermediate artery.^[1]

The part that is between the aorta and the bifurcation only is known as the left main artery (LM), while the term 'LCA' might refer to just the left main, or to the left main and all its eventual branches.

A "first septal branch" is sometimes described.^[2]

[edit] Additional images

A coronary angiogram that shows the LMCA, LAD and LCX.

Diagram of a myocardial infarction.

Plan of the branches.

Autopsy specimen showing the coronary ostia and proximal segments of the coronary arteries. Compare with Gray's Anatomy drawing above.

Cardiac vessels

Human heart with coronary arteries

Heart left lateral coronaries diagram

[edit] See also

• Coronary circulation
• Widow maker

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• SUNY Figs 20:03-01 - "Anterior view of the heart."
• Left+coronary+artery at eMedicine Dictionary
• 00463 at CHORUS

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