Myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending coronary artery in monkey hearts

The presence of myocardial bridges over the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) has been studied in 55 monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) hearts. The resemblance between the Cercopithecus LAD and the one in humans has been revealed. Cercopithecus LAD was the most frequently (70.9%) overbridged artery. The bridges were usually single. Only in 2 hearts (3.6%) LAD was overbridged by 2 MB. Their length varies from 0.5 mm to 31.6 mm (average 11.7 mm). No statistically significant sexual differences in the incidence and length of MB have been reported. Atherosclerotic lesions have been reported in overbridged parts of the vessel as well as in the subepicardial ones. Intimate correlation between the presence of myocardial bridges and atherosclerosis could not be suggested.