Right Coronary Artery ΓÇö Origin, Course, and Branches
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Right Coronary Artery — Origin, Course, and Branches
The right coronary artery (RCA) is smaller than the left coronary artery. Along with the left coronary artery, it arises from the ascending aorta and runs on the surface of the heart within the subpericardial fibrofatty tissue.
Origin
Arises from the anterior aortic sinus (right aortic sinus) of the ascending aorta, immediately above the aortic valve.
Course
Segment
Description
Initial
Runs forwards between the pulmonary trunk and the right auricle
Descending
Descends almost vertically in the right anterior coronary sulcus (right atrioventricular groove) to the junction of the right and inferior borders of the heart
Turn
At the inferior border, turns posteriorly
Posterior
Runs backwards in the right posterior coronary sulcus (posterior atrioventricular groove) towards the posterior interventricular groove
Termination
Anastomoses with the circumflex branch of the left coronary artery at the crux cordis (junction of posterior interventricular and atrioventricular grooves)
Branches
Large (Named) Branches
Branch
Origin
Course
Right marginal artery
At the inferior border of the heart
Runs along the inferior (acute) margin towards the apex
Posterior interventricular artery
From RCA on the diaphragmatic surface
Runs in the posterior interventricular sulcus towards the apex; supplies postero-inferior interventricular septum; anastomoses with the anterior interventricular branch of LCA
Small Branches
Branch
Notes
Sinuatrial (SA) nodal artery
Supplies the SA node; arises from RCA in ~60% of cases; from LCA in ~40%
Atrioventricular (AV) nodal artery
Supplies the AV node; usually from RCA at the crux
Infundibular (conus) branch
Supplies the infundibulum (pulmonary conus)
Right atrial branches
Supply the right atrium
Right ventricular branches
Supply the anterior surface of the right ventricle
