Rare case of single left coronary artery in a Japanese cadaver
Hayato Terayama1,2, Osamu Tanaka3, Daisuke Kiyoshima3
1Department of Anatomy, Division of Basic Medical Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan. terahaya@tokai-u.jp.
Insights
An 81-year-old male cadaver presented a rare single left coronary artery variation. This anatomical finding is crucial for guiding surgical procedures like cardiac catheterization.
Area of Science:
- Human Anatomy
- Cardiovascular Anatomy
Background:
- Anatomical variations in coronary arteries can impact cardiac procedures.
- Understanding coronary artery anatomy is vital for surgical planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document and describe an unusual single left coronary artery originating from the left aortic sinus.
- To detail the branching pattern and blood supply territory of this anomalous coronary artery.
Main Methods:
- Anatomical dissection of an 81-year-old Japanese male cadaver.
- Detailed observation and documentation of the coronary artery system, including origin, branching, and distribution.
Main Results:
- A single left coronary artery originated from a single ostium in the left aortic sinus.
- The artery bifurcated into anterior interventricular (IVa) and circumflex (CXa) branches.
- The CXa branch supplied the upper right ventricle and apex, with IVa supplying the right ventricle's anterior upper region.
Conclusions:
- This case highlights a rare coronary artery anomaly with potential clinical implications.
- Knowledge of such variations is essential for interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.
Abstract:
A single left coronary artery with a single orifice in the left aortic sinus was observed during anatomical practice in an 81-year-old male Japanese cadaver. The single left coronary artery bifurcated into the anterior interventricular branch (IVa) and circumflex (CXa) branches. The IVa descended into the anterior interventricular sulcus to supply the apex of the heart, leaving a branch that traversed the upper part of the infundibulum to supply the anterior upper region of the right ventricle. The CXa curved leftward in the atrioventricular sulcus to reach the posterior surface, after which it continued to emerge into the anterior surface. The vascular running pattern showed that CXa directly supplied blood to the upper right ventricle (but not the conus branch), with three branches connected to the apex. The atrial arteries showed no anomalous distribution patterns. These findings are useful during surgical procedures, including cardiac catheterization.
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