Abstract
The collateral circulation of the heart provides blood supply to myocardium, the original arterial supply to which has become restricted either partially or totally. As such, the extent of and capacity to develop collateral circulation will determine the ability of myocardium to survive ischaemia and become revascularized respectively. The existence of collateral circulation varies markedly between species, being greatest in the guinea pig, in which it is almost impossible to produce an infarct, and least in the pig.1 It also differs in vessel type, existing as larger epicardial arterioles in the dog, 20–60μm in diameter, but as small subendocardial capillary-like vessels in the pig, and in man, the collateral circulation resembles most closely that of the pig, consisting primarily of subendocardial capillaries.2,3
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