Right coronary artery

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

The right coronary artery (RCA) originates above the right cusp of the aortic valve. It travels down the right atrioventricular groove, towards the crux of the heart. In addition to supplying blood to the right ventricle (RV), the RCA supplies 25% to 35% of the left ventricle (LV).

Branches

The right coronary artery branches into:
- The conus artery
  - At the origin of the RCA is the conus artery.
- SA branch
  - The RCA supplies the SA nodal artery in 60% of patients. The other 40% of the time, the SA nodal artery is supplied by the left circumflex artery.
- Acute marginal artery
  - It supplies the right ventricular wall.
- Posterior descending artery
  - In 85% of patients, the RCA gives off the posterior descending artery (PDA). In the other 15% of cases, the PDA is given off by the left circumflex artery.
  - It supplies the inferior wall, posterior interventricular septum and posteromedial papillary muscle.^[1]

File:RCA.gif

Segments

Table

Additional Images

Base of ventricles exposed by removal of the atria.
The arch of the aorta, and its branches.
Plan of the branches.
Diagram of a myocardial infarction.
Aorta and coronary arteries at autopsy. The proximal portion of the RCA and its ostium can be seen at the lower left.

↑ Morton DA, Foreman KB, Albertine KH. Chapter 4. Heart. In: Morton DA, Foreman KB, Albertine KH, eds. The Big Picture: Gross Anatomy. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2011.

[1] Morton DA, Foreman KB, Albertine KH. Chapter 4. Heart. In: Morton DA, Foreman KB, Albertine KH, eds. The Big Picture: Gross Anatomy. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2011.

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