Coronary circulation
hideCoronary circulation is the circulation of blood in the blood vessels of the heart muscle. Although blood fills the chambers of the heart, the muscle tissue of the heart (the myocardium) is so thick that it requires coronary blood vessels to deliver blood deep into it. The vessels that deliver oxygen-rich blood to the myocardium are known as coronary arteries. The vessels that remove the deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle are known as coronary veins.
The coronary arteries that run on the surface of the heart are called epicardial coronary arteries. These arteries, when healthy, are capable of autoregulation to maintain coronary blood flow at levels appropriate to the needs of the heart muscle. These relatively narrow vessels are commonly affected by atherosclerosis and can become blocked, causing angina or a heart attack. (See also: circulatory system.) The coronary arteries that run deep within the myocardium are referred to as subendocardial.
The coronary arteries are classified as "end circulation", since they represent the only source of blood supply to the myocardium: there is very little redundant blood supply, which is why blockage of these vessels can be so critical.
For more information about Coronary circulation, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with coronary artery
Vitamin B niacin offers no extra benefit to statin therapy in seniors already diagnosed with CAD
Nov 18, 2009 |
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The routine prescription of extended-release niacin, a B vitamin (1,500 milligrams daily), in combination with traditional cholesterol-lowering therapy offers no extra benefit in correcting arterial narrowing and diminishing ...
New Test May Predict Heart Disease Events and the Effect of Weight Loss on Insulin Resistance
Nov 17, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Chemical fingerprints produced by the body's normal metabolic processes predict who will suffer cardiovascular events and who will benefit from weight loss by reduction of insulin resistance, according two ...
New Anti-Clotting Medication Not More Effective than Standard Care; Hint of Other Clinical Benefits
Medicine & Health / Medications
Nov 17, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Two large studies confirmed that an investigational, reversible anti-clotting medication failed to show greater effectiveness than clopidogrel or a placebo for patients undergoing a procedure to open blocked ...
Women suffering sudden cardiac arrest have lower prevalence of structural heart disease than men
Nov 17, 2009 |
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A woman who suffers sudden cardiac arrest is significantly less likely than a man to exhibit the decrease in the heart's pumping ability that is widely recognized as a precursor, says a new study in the Nov. 24 Journal of ...
Telephone-delivered care for treating depression after CABG surgery appears to improve outcomes
Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry
Nov 16, 2009 |
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Patients who received telephone-delivered collaborative care for treatment of depression after coronary artery bypass graft surgery reported greater improvement in measures of quality of life, physical functioning and mood ...
New study links vitamin D deficiency to cardiovascular disease and death
Nov 16, 2009 |
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While mothers have known that feeding their kids milk builds strong bones, a new study by researchers at the Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City suggests that Vitamin D contributes to a strong ...
Researchers using excimer laser angioplasty to blast arterial blockages in heart and kidneys
Nov 10, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Using an excimer laser to widen narrowed or obstructed blood vessels in hard-to-reach areas of heart and kidney arteries may be feasible and safe, according to a study by a team of researchers from the Virginia ...
Small increases in phosphorus mean higher risk of heart disease
Nov 05, 2009 |
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Higher levels of phosphorus in the blood are linked to increased calcification of the coronary arteries— a key marker of heart disease risk, according to a study in an upcoming issue of Clinical Journal of the American So ...
Statins may worsen symptoms in some cardiac patients
Nov 03, 2009 |
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Although statins are widely used to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular disorders, new research shows that the class of drugs may actually have negative effects on some cardiac patients. A new study presented ...
Quality improvement program increases hospitals' adherence to evidenced-based care
Oct 27, 2009 |
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Participation in the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines quality improvement program significantly improves hospitals' adherence to evidence-based therapies and reduces gender- and age-related disparities ...
Heart test found safe for pre-transplant kidney patients
Oct 15, 2009 |
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A screening test that measures whether a patient's heart is healthy enough for a kidney transplant is not as dangerous as once thought, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the Am ...
Calcium scans may be effective screening tool for heart disease
Sep 30, 2009 |
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A simple, non-invasive test appears to be an effective screening tool for identifying patients with silent heart disease who are at risk for a heart attack or sudden death. Coronary artery calcium scans can be done without ...
Flu boosts heart-attack risk, says study
Sep 21, 2009 |
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Heart problems may account for a huge share of deaths from influenza, according to a study published on Tuesday that recommends cardiac patients be vaccinated against flu.
Comprehensive cardiac CT scan may give clearer picture of significant heart disease
Sep 15, 2009 |
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A team of researchers led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) radiologists has developed a computed-tomography-based protocol that identifies both narrowing of coronary arteries and areas of myocardial ischemia - restricted ...
Study examines stroke risk among patients undergoing cardiac surgery
Medicine & Health / Neuroscience
Sep 14, 2009 |
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Among patients undergoing cardiac surgery, post-operative stroke occurred in approximately 2 percent, was not correlated with significant carotid artery narrowing, but was more common among patients who had combined cardiac ...
