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Coronary Circulation

Coronary Circulation

The heart, an organ critical to survival, gets nourishment not from the blood it pumps but from a separate circulation system known as coronary circulation. This is the shortest circulation in the body and is responsible for supplying the heart with the nutrients it needs to function effectively.
Coronary circulation begins at the base of the aorta, where two main arteries arise—the left and right coronary arteries. These arteries encircle the heart in the coronary sulcus and supply the...

Physiology of the Heart: The Cardiac Cycle

Physiology of the Heart: The Cardiac Cycle

The cardiac cycle describes the events from one heartbeat to the next. It includes three main phases: diastole, atrial systole, and ventricular systole, all driven by changes in chamber pressures and the function of heart valves.
Diastole: The Relaxation Phase
During diastole, all four heart chambers relax. The atrioventricular (AV) valves open, and the semilunar valves close. This phase sees the lowest chamber pressures, promoting ventricular filling. Venous blood enters the heart through the...

Overview of the Heart

Overview of the Heart

The heart, a muscular organ located in the chest, functions as the body's pump, circulating blood through the vascular system. It has four chambers: two atria on top and two ventricles below. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body and passes it to the right ventricle, which pumps it to the lungs for oxygenation. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and transfers it to the left ventricle, which pumps it to the rest of the body.
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Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology

Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) originates from a series of events that impair the function of coronary arteries, the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. The pathophysiology of CAD is closely linked to atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven condition affecting the vascular endothelium.1. Endothelial DamageThe process begins with damage to the vascular endothelium, which serves as a protective barrier between the blood and the vessel...

Pathophysiology of Cardiac Performance

Pathophysiology of Cardiac Performance

Typical heart performance is influenced by heart rate, rhythm, myocardial contraction, and metabolism or blood flow. The cardiac muscle exhibits distinct electrophysiological features, including pacemaker activity and calcium channel control, which play a vital role in the heart's response to various drugs. The autonomic nervous system, comprising the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches, regulates heart rate. Sympathetic activation increases heart rate, while parasympathetic activation...

Anatomy of the Heart

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Chambers of the Heart
The heart is made up of four...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Dynamic Measurement and Imaging of Capillaries, Arterioles, and Pericytes in Mouse Heart

Dynamic Measurement and Imaging of Capillaries, Arterioles, and Pericytes in Mouse Heart

Published on: July 29, 2020

Coronary microcirculation in the beating heart.

Fumihiko Kajiya¹, Toyotaka Yada, Osamu Hiramatsu

¹Department of Medical Engineering, Kawasaki Medical School, 288 Matsushima Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0193, Japan. kajiya@me.kawasaki-m.ac.jp

Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing

|March 28, 2008

Summary

Coronary arteries and veins exhibit opposing blood flow patterns, highlighting the role of intramyocardial vessels. This unique hemodynamic characteristic is crucial for understanding cardiac function during the cardiac cycle.

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Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Dynamic Measurement and Imaging of Capillaries, Arterioles, and Pericytes in Mouse Heart

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Published on: July 29, 2020

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Evaluation of Coronary Flow Reserve After Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion in Rats

Evaluation of Coronary Flow Reserve After Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion in Rats

Published on: June 28, 2019

Area of Science:

Cardiovascular Physiology
Biomedical Engineering

Background:

Coronary hemodynamics are characterized by a distinct phase opposition between arterial and venous flow.
Intramyocardial capacitance and variable resistance vessels play a critical role in cardiac function.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the functional components of intramyocardial capacitance vessels during diastole.
To investigate the impact of cardiac contraction on coronary vascular resistance.

Main Methods:

Analysis of coronary artery and vein velocity waveforms.
In vivo observation of arteriolar dimensions during the cardiac cycle.

Main Results:

Coronary arteries show predominantly diastolic flow, while veins exhibit systolic flow.
Intramyocardial capacitance vessels possess unstressed volume and ordinary capacitance components during diastole.
Arterioles in the mid-wall and subendocardium narrow during systole, increasing vascular resistance.

Conclusions:

The phase-opposed flow patterns are fundamental to coronary hemodynamics.
Unstressed volume and ordinary capacitance are key functional aspects of diastolic intramyocardial capacitance.
Cardiac contraction significantly modulates coronary vascular resistance through vessel narrowing.