The right coronary artery (RCA) originates above the right cusp of the aortic valve

Aortic valve

The aortic valve is one of the valves of the heart. It is normally tricuspid , although in 1% of the population it is found to be congenitally bicuspid . It lies between the left ventricle and the aorta....

. It travels down the right atrioventricular groove, towards the crux of the heart

Heart

The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...

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At the origin of the RCA is the conus artery

Conus artery

The conus artery is a coronary artery that is present in only 45 percent of human hearts. The conus artery may provide collateral blood flow to the heart when the left anterior descending artery is occluded. In one study, 305 cadaveric specimens were examined to determine the origin of the conus...

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In addition to supplying blood to the right ventricle

Right ventricle

The right ventricle is one of four chambers in the human heart. It receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium via the tricuspid valve, and pumps it into the pulmonary artery via the pulmonary valve and pulmonary trunk....

 (RV), the RCA supplies 25% to 35% of the left ventricle

Left ventricle

The left ventricle is one of four chambers in the human heart. It receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium via the mitral valve, and pumps it into the aorta via the aortic valve.-Shape:...

 (LV).

In 85% of patients, the RCA gives off the posterior descending artery

Posterior descending artery

The posterior interventricular artery is an artery running in the posterior interventricular sulcus to the apex of the heart where it meets with the anterior interventricular artery....

 (PDA). In the other 15% of cases, the PDA is given off by the left circumflex artery

Left circumflex artery

The "LCX", or left circumflex artery is an artery of the heart.-Course:...

. The PDA supplies the inferior wall, ventricular septum, and the posteromedial papillary muscle

Papillary muscle

In anatomy, the papillary muscles are muscles located in the ventricles of the heart. They attach to the cusps of the atrioventricular valves via the chordae tendinae and contract to prevent inversion or prolapse of these valves.- Action :There are five total papillary muscles in the heart, three...

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The RCA also 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.

Additional images

ARTERIES: RCA = right coronary AB = atrial branches Atrial branches of coronary arteries The atrial branches of right coronary artery derive from the right coronary artery and provide part of the blood supply to the right atrium and left atrium.... SANB = sinuatrial nodal Sinuatrial nodal artery The sinuatrial nodal artery is an artery of the heart which supplies the sinoatrial node, and usually arises from either the right coronary artery or the circumflex branch of left coronary artery.... RMA = right marginal Right marginal branch of right coronary artery The right marginal branch of right coronary artery is a large marginal branch which follows the acute margin of the heart and supplies branches to both surfaces of the right ventricle.-Additional images:... LCA = left coronary Left coronary artery The left coronary artery, abbreviated LCA and also known as the left main coronary artery , arises from the aorta above the left cusp of the aortic valve.-Branching:... CB = circumflex branch LAD/AIB = anterior interventricular Anterior interventricular branch of left coronary artery The "LAD", or left anterior descending artery is an artery of the heart.-Course:... LMA = left marginal Left marginal artery The left marginal artery is a branch of the circumflex artery, originating at the posterior interventricular sulcus, traveling along the left margin of heart towards the apex of the heart.-Additional images:... PIA/PDA = posterior descending MARG = left marginal Left marginal artery The left marginal artery is a branch of the circumflex artery, originating at the posterior interventricular sulcus, traveling along the left margin of heart towards the apex of the heart.-Additional images:... AVN = atrioventricular nodal Atrioventricular nodal branch The atrioventricular nodal branch most frequently arises as a distal branch from the right coronary artery, but occasionally the atrioventricular node receives blood from the circumflex branch of left coronary artery.... VEINS: SCV = small cardiac Small cardiac vein The small cardiac vein runs in the coronary sulcus between the right atrium and ventricle, and opens into the right extremity of the coronary sinus.It receives blood from the back of the right atrium and ventricle.... ACV = anterior cardiac Anterior cardiac veins The anterior cardiac veins , comprising three or four small vessels which collect blood from the front of the right ventricle and open into the right atrium; the right marginal vein frequently opens into the right atrium, and is therefore sometimes regarded as belonging to this groupUnlike most... AIV/GCV = great cardiac Great cardiac vein The Great Cardiac Vein begins at the apex of the heart and ascends along the anterior longitudinal sulcus to the base of the ventricles.... MCV = middle cardiac Middle cardiac vein The middle cardiac vein commences at the apex of the heart, ascends in the posterior longitudinal sulcus, and ends in the coronary sinus near its right extremity.-External links: - "Posterior view of the heart."... CS = coronary sinus Coronary sinus The coronary sinus is a collection of veins joined together to form a large vessel that collects blood from the myocardium of the heart. It is present in all mammals, including humans...

External links

• Overview at Cleveland Clinic
  Cleveland Clinic
  The Cleveland Clinic is a multispecialty academic medical center located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The Cleveland Clinic is currently regarded as one of the top 4 hospitals in the United States as rated by U.S. News & World Report...
  
  - "Anterior view of the heart."
• Figure of the marginal artery of the heart - merck.com.