Microanatomy and intramural physical forces within the coronary arteries (man).

Abstract

AbstractThe osita of the left and right coronary arteries differ as to location, the distribution of surrounding muscle bundles, and in the extension of aortic elements into the proximal segments of the vessels. The muscle of the media of the right coronary artery is composed of thick bundles describing a helical contour and arranged in repetitive segments. Multiple muscle bundles make up the media of the anterier descending and circumflex arteries, and each bundle arises separately from different quadrants of the adventitia. Contraction of the muscle bundles may generate intramural physical forces. Ostial regions, sites of nearly continual deformation from the pulse wave, develop focal physical forces. Accentuation of these physical forces may occur in certain regions and result in the alteration of the histology of the artery by depositing connective tissue elements.