Anat Cell Biol.  2021 Mar;54(1):132-135. 10.5115/acb.20.241.

Novel bilateral bifurcation of the coronary vasculature

• Taylor AM
• McAleer J
• Wessels Q

• KMID: 2514594
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.20.241

Abstract

Multiple variants and anomalies in the coronary vasculature have been reported. Some variants, particularly those with duplication, can be advantageous, many are insignificant and some are ultimately lethal. Many of these variants and anomalies are not identified until imaged or post-mortem. A novel bilateral bifid variation of the coronary arteries was observed in 49-year-old male cadaver. The respective origins were associated with the left and right aortic cusps from single ostia. Immediate bifurcation followed on either side. A right sided accessory branch supplied the pulmonary trunk and right ventricle. A more standard branch continued to form the posterior interventricular artery. The left sided variation demonstrated a solitary circumflex artery (towards the posterior interventricular septum) and, left marginal and anterior interventricular branches shortly after bifurcation. This case may be beneficial in surviving adverse cardiac events, particularly those associated with lifestyle. They also present a ‘double’ challenge for clinicians.

Keyword

Anatomy; Coronary vessels; Variation; Embryology

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The distribution of the coronary arteries. (A) Anterior view schematic. (B) Superior resected view with expanded captions of ‘shotgun’ orifices after bifurcation (asterisks indicating the origins of the coronary arteries). (C) Right anterior oblique view. (D) Left anterior oblique view (asterisks indicating the measurement points of the luminal diameters). 1, right coronary artery; 2, left coronary artery; 3, circumflex artery (leading towards the posterior interventricular septum); 4, right coronary artery (also supplying the SA node); 5 accessory right coronary (supplying the pulmonary trunk and providing a right ventricular branch); 6, right marginal artery; 7, branch to the pulmonary trunk; 8, PDA; 9, LAD; 10, left marginal artery; LAD, anterior interventricular artery; PDA, posterior interventricular artery; SA, sinoatrial.

Reference

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