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Analysis of the influence of heart size and gender on coronary circulation type
A Gawlikowska-Sroka1, D Miklaszewska, F Czerwiński
1Department of General and Clinical Anatomy, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland. gawlikow@sci.pam.szczecin.pl
Insights
Coronary circulation patterns, classified by Hettler, show a majority of co-dominant types. This study found no link between coronary artery dominance, heart size, or gender, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Cardiovascular Science
- Human Anatomy
Background:
- Classification systems for coronary circulation, like Hettler's, are crucial for understanding cardiac anatomy.
- Hettler's classification categorizes coronary circulation into left dominance, right dominance, and co-dominant types based on interventricular branch patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the prevalence of different coronary circulation types in a human heart specimen cohort.
- To investigate potential correlations between coronary circulation types, heart size, and gender.
Main Methods:
- Utilized true casts of coronary vessels created with epoxide resins from 102 human hearts (59 male, 43 female).
- Measured heart dimensions and evaluated coronary circulation types according to Hettler's criteria.
- Performed statistical analysis to assess correlations.
Main Results:
- The co-dominant coronary circulation type was most prevalent, followed by right coronary artery dominance.
- Left-dominant coronary artery type was the least common.
- No statistically significant correlation was observed between coronary circulation type and heart size or gender.
Conclusions:
- Coronary circulation type prevalence in the studied cohort aligns with previous classifications.
- Coronary circulation type is independent of heart size and gender.
- These findings support the hypothesis that coronary circulation type is a hereditary trait.
Abstract:
Currently, there are many types of classification of coronary circulation. The first type was introduced in 1904 by Banchi. Hettler provides very detailed criteria for the type classification based on the course of the anterior and posterior interventricular branches. Hettler defined the following types: left coronary artery dominance, right coronary artery dominance, and co-dominant. The objective of this study was to analyse coronary circulation types in the studied material and their correlation with heart size and gender. The study was carried out on 102 human hearts (59 male and 43 female). True casts of coronary vessels were obtained using epoxide resins. The prepared specimens were measured for heart dimensions and evaluated for coronary circulation type. The majority of the specimens were classified as the co-dominant type, followed by the right coronary artery dominant type. The left-dominant coronary artery type represented the lowest number of heart specimens. No statistically significant correlation between the type of coronary circulation and heart size or gender was found. The coronary circulation type is not correlated with heart size or with gender. This confirms that it is a hereditary trait.
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