Meandering Retrosternal Course of Right Coronary Artery: Partially Empty Right Atrioventricular Groove
Niraj Nirmal Pandey1, Sravan Nagulakonda1, Manish Shaw1
1Department of Cardiovascular Radiology and Endovascular Interventions, 28730All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Abstract:
We report a case of a 35-year-old man with a dilated ascending aorta and a unique meandering retrosternal course of the right coronary artery (RCA) resulting in a partially empty right atrioventricular groove. The aortic root showed an exaggerated clockwise rotation, resulting in an anteriorly directed RCA ostium and the RCA, instead of entering the right atrioventricular groove, traversed caudally in the subepicardial space over the anterior surface of the right ventricle directly posterior to the sternum.
Related Concept Videos
Coronary Circulation
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...
Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction
Aortic Regurgitation I: Introduction
Chambers of the Heart
Deoxygenated blood from the body is received in the right...
Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction
Physiology of the Heart: The Cardiac Cycle
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...


