Anomalous Origin in the Left Circumflex Artery from the Right Coronary Artery

Abstract

The typical branching pattern of the right coronary artery (RCA) consists of a marginal branch and a continuation as the posterior interventricular artery. The left coronary artery classically consists of an anterior interventricular artery and a circumflex branch, the latter of which courses around the left auricle and joins with the right coronary artery. According to past case reports, anomalies in this standard pattern are observed on angiograms with a 0.6% to 1.5% rate of occurrence (Dursunoğlu et al. 2007). Specific anomalies are found to occur at a lower rate, or are unreported due to insufficient studies and publications. Our team analyzed 23 human heart specimens (average age of 82 years) during routine cadaver dissection by undergraduate medical students and discovered an anomalous origin in the left circumflex artery (AOLCX). On the specified cadaver heart (71 year old male), an absence of the circumflex branch from the left coronary artery was noted; and upon further examination AOLCX was arising from a super‐dominant right coronary artery. After arising from the right proximal coronary artery, AOLCX wrapped around the posterior aspect of the aorta before arising anteriorly and circumflexing around the left auricle towards the posterior surface of the heart. The significance of this abnormality is that systolic compression of the AOLCX produced by the aorta and left atrium during daily activities may result in a transient reduction in coronary flow (Carboni). AOLCX from RCA has an incidence of 0.7 % (Roberts WC) and is associated with sudden death (Edwards, et al).Support or Funding InformationN/AThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.