Study of Posterior Interventricular Artery in Human Cadaveric Hearts

Abstract

Back ground: Human heart is supplied by coronary arteries. Variations in the branching pattern of coronary arteries can affect the blood supply to the heart.Context: Origin of posterior interventricular artery determines the coronary dominance. Prognosis of inferior wall infarcts is related to coronary dominance.Purpose: The present study was conducted in 60 specimens of human cadaveric hearts and observed for number, origin, and level of termination of posterior interventricular artery.Results: Present study was conducted in 60 specimens and right coronary dominance was observed in 91.7%. The incidence of left coronary dominance was observed in 6.7% and co-dominance was found in 1.7%. Conclusion:Posterior interventricular artery has special importance as it determines the coronary dominance. The blood supply of the inferior myocardium depends on the dominance. Hence awareness of these variations plays an important role in treating inferior wall infarcts. Also awareness of coronary artery variations is important during interventions like imaging by conventional catheters.