Coronary Arteries

The epicardial coronary arteries are highlighted in this image. The Right Coronary (RC) artery originates from the right coronary sinus of Valsalva and courses within the epicardial adipose tissue anteriorly following the atrioventricular groove to the lateral and posterior walls of the right ventricle. In most humans the RC reaches the crux of the heart and turns into the posterior descending coronary artery. At the crux of the heart It commonly gives of a small brach which courses anteriorly in the interventricular septum and becomes the artery to the SA node. The Left Coronary artery arises from the left coronary sinus of Valsalva and bifurcates into the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery and into the circumflex coronary artery (Cx).  The LAD courses in the interventricular groove and gives off several diagonal branches that follow the epicardial surface as well as several perforating septal branches.   The Circumflex coronary artery follows a its course in the atrioventricular groove towards the posterior wall of the left ventricle. In less than 20% of humans it reaches the crux of the heart and becomes the left posterior descending coronary artery (as shown in this example.   

This image shows the heart viewed from a cephalad perspective. The anterior wall of the heart is at the top of the image. The posterior wall is at the bottom.  The atria have been removed as well as the epicardial adipose tissue.   The epicardial coronaries are well exposed.

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