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Posterior sinus node artery and accessory atrioventricular node artery arising by a common origin: a case report
S Tanaka1, H Y Lee, S Mizukami
1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Japan. anatoku@kenroku.ipc.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Clinical Anatomy (New York, N.Y.)
|March 24, 1998
Summary
A rare coronary artery variation was found: a posterior sinus node artery and an accessory atrioventricular node artery originated from the circumflex artery. This unique vascular anatomy offers insights into cardiac innervation and blood supply.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Anatomy
- Cardiac Electrophysiology
- Vascular Morphology
Background:
- Understanding coronary artery anatomy is crucial for diagnosing and treating cardiac conditions.
- Variations in the arterial supply to the sinus node and atrioventricular node can impact cardiac function and rhythm.
Observation:
- A novel anatomical variation was identified in a Japanese male cadaver.
- A common trunk originating from the circumflex artery gave rise to both the posterior sinus node artery and an accessory atrioventricular node artery.
Findings:
- The posterior sinus node artery supplied the sinus venosus and sinus node via a clockwise path around the left atrium.
- The accessory atrioventricular node artery supplied the atrioventricular node through the interatrial septum, coursing counterclockwise.
- This accessory artery may represent a modified Kugel's anastomotic artery.
Implications:
- This finding expands the known spectrum of coronary artery anomalies.
- Such variations may have implications for cardiac surgery, electrophysiology procedures, and understanding congenital heart disease.
- Further research is needed to determine the clinical significance and prevalence of this vascular pattern.