Study of Left Coronary Artery and Its Variations: A Cadaveric Study from Gujarat Region

Abstract

Background: A lot of variations have been analyzed in the case of the left coronary artery (LCA) which makes it a leading cause of death globally. Therefore, awareness of normal and variant anatomy of this artery in relation to its main trunk and branches is the key to physicians, cardiologists, and radiologists in the management of various cardiac pathologies. Materials and Methods: Eighty embalmed and formalin-fixed adult human cadaveric hearts of both genders with no history or signs of pathology were dissected meticulously during educational hours. Results and Conclusion: Among 80 hearts studied, 71 hearts left coronary ostia were located below the sinotubular junction. The mean distance of left coronary ostia from the supravalvular ridge lying above and below was 2.93 ± 0.39 mm and 2.72 ± 0.92 mm, respectively. The mean diameter of the left coronary ostium was 3.67 ± 0.94 mm. The mean length and diameter of the LCA main trunk (LCAMT) were 13.06 ± 2.42 mm and 4.93 ± 0.60 mm, respectively. The most common branching pattern of LCAMT was bifurcation. The most frequent range of length of left anterior descending (LAD) and circumflex (Cx) artery was 10–12 cm and 6.5–8 cm, respectively. The most common termination point of LAD was at the anterior one-third part of posterior interventricular sulcus and for Cx artery was between the crux and obtuse border of the heart. Right coronary dominance was the most common.