The Third Branch of the Main Trunk of the Left Coronary Artery in Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus. Is the Nonhuman Primate Model Appropriate?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the morphometry of branching patterns of the main trunk of the left coronary artery (MT of LCA) in nonhuman primates, and comment on the current nomenclature. The biometric study was performed using stereomicroscopic dissection of hearts of healthy and fertile nonhuman primates (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus) of both sexes. Our results reveal that the MT of LCA terminates in a bifurcation into the anterior interventricular branch (AIB) and the circumflex branch (CB) (74.6%), trifurcation into the AIB, CB, and diagonal branch (DB) (23.6%), or occasionally quadrifurcation into the AIB, CB, and two DBs (1.8%). This is similar to the case in humans. Furthermore, two morphological aspects of the DB spatial distribution, in addition to its branching pattern, resemble the DB in humans. Myocardial bridges observed over the DB in the Cercopithecus aethiops heart further contribute to the similarity with humans. The resemblance of the DB and its branches to their human counterparts make them a suitable model for experimental study on coronary circulation. Anat Rec, 294:1506Rec, 294: -1510Rec, 294: , 2011. V V C 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Anatomic Parameters of the Left Coronary Artery: an Angiographic Study in a South African Population

“…The findings of this study showed that in the trifurcation pattern, the LCA has a longer mean length than the bifurcation pattern. The present study confirms the findings of Nikolic et al (2011) who stated that the mean length of LCA is longer in trifurcation than in bifurcation pattern. However, it could not validate the association between the lengths of the LCA and its branching pattern due to the small sample size of the quadrifurcation pattern in this study.…”

A cadaveric study of arteriovenous trigone of heart: the triangle of Brocq and Mouchet

“…Its presence reduces risk of atherosclerosis of left anterior interventricular artery and circumflex coronary artery. Median artery is a constant feature of rabbit, monkey, squirrel monkey and pig hearts [ 15 ]. In conclusion the incidence of closed type of trigone with median artery as a predominant content is found in maximum hearts.…”

The prevalence and clinical importance of an “additional” terminal branch of the left coronary artery

“…The blood supply to the sterno-costal surface of the left ventricle may be through an ATB [16]. It may also give off 1 or more anterior septal arteries and supply the anterior papillary muscle of the left ventricle.…”

“…It may also give off 1 or more anterior septal arteries and supply the anterior papillary muscle of the left ventricle. In certain cases, and depending on its distribution, the ATB may be an important source of collateral circulation [16,24]. The identification of this vessel may be of clinical importance because the extent of its supply may decrease the effect of occlusion of the AIA and LCx artery on the myocardium [18].…”

“…There is also a lack of consensus on the criteria used for their definition [16], and these ATBs are absent from the current Terminologia Anatomica (1998) [9]. Furthermore, the nomenclature of these branches has not been afforded much attention in standard anatomical textbooks [15,20,21].…”