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CAD

The two main coronary arteries are the left main and right coronary arteries. The left main artery supplies blood to the left side of the heart, dividing into the left anterior descending artery and circumflex artery. The right coronary artery supplies blood to the right side of the heart, including the right ventricle, right atrium, and nodes regulating heart rhythm. It divides into the right posterior descending and acute marginal arteries. Coronary atherosclerosis is the most common heart disease in the US, where lipid and fibrous substances accumulate in the vessel wall and reduce blood flow to the heart muscle. Risk factors include family history, age, gender, race, high cholesterol, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, lack of estrogen, inactivity, and

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25 views3 pages

CAD

The two main coronary arteries are the left main and right coronary arteries. The left main artery supplies blood to the left side of the heart, dividing into the left anterior descending artery and circumflex artery. The right coronary artery supplies blood to the right side of the heart, including the right ventricle, right atrium, and nodes regulating heart rhythm. It divides into the right posterior descending and acute marginal arteries. Coronary atherosclerosis is the most common heart disease in the US, where lipid and fibrous substances accumulate in the vessel wall and reduce blood flow to the heart muscle. Risk factors include family history, age, gender, race, high cholesterol, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, lack of estrogen, inactivity, and

Uploaded by

neelimawanker chinnari
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Coronary Arteries The left and right coronary arteries and their branches (Fig.

26-2) supply
arterial blood to the heart. These arteries originate from the aorta just above the aortic valve
leaflets.
The left coronary artery has three branches. The artery from the point of origin to the first major
branch is called the left main coronary artery.
Two bifurcations arise off the left main coronary artery.
These are the left anterior descending artery, which courses down the anterior wall of the heart,
and the circumflex artery, which circles around to the lateral left wall of the heart.
The right side of the heart is supplied by the right coronary artery, which progresses around to
the bottom or inferior wall of the heart.
The posterior wall of the heart receives its blood supply by an additional branch from the right
coronary artery called the posterior descending artery.
Superficial to the coronary arteries are the coronary veins.
Venous blood from these veins returns to the heart primarily through the coronary sinus, which is
located posteriorly in the right atrium
PHYSIOLOGY
The 2 main coronary arteries are the left main and right coronary arteries.
Left main coronary artery (LMCA). The left main coronary artery supplies blood to the left side
of the heart muscle (the left ventricle and left atrium). The left main coronary divides into
branches:
The left anterior descending artery branches off the left coronary artery and supplies blood to the
front of the left side of the heart.
The circumflex artery branches off the left coronary artery and encircles the heart muscle. This
artery supplies blood to the outer side and back of the heart.
Right coronary artery (RCA). The right coronary artery supplies blood to the right ventricle, the
right atrium, and the SA (sinoatrial) and AV (atrioventricular) nodes, which regulate the heart
rhythm. The right coronary artery divides into smaller branches, including the right posterior
descending artery and the acute marginal artery. Together with the left anterior descending artery,
the right coronary artery helps supply blood to the middle or septum of the heart

INTRODUCTION
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most prevalent type of cardiovascular disease. For this
reason, it is important for nurses to become familiar with the various types of coronary artery
conditions and the methods for assessing, preventing, and treating these disorders medically and
surgically.
CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS
The most common heart disease in the United States is atherosclerosis, which is an abnormal
accumulation of lipid, or fatty, substances and fibrous tissue in the vessel wall. These substances
create blockages or narrow the vessel in a way that reduces blood flow to the myocardium.
Studies (Mehta et al., 1998) indicate that atherosclerosis involves a repetitious inflammatory
response to artery wall injury and an alteration in the biophysical and biochemical properties of
the arterial walls.
INCIDENCE: TEXT BOOK 163 PAGE
RISK FACTORS:
Nonmodifiable Risk Factors
Family history of coronary heart disease
Increasing age
Gender (heart disease occurs three times more often in men than
in premenopausal women)
Race (higher incidence of heart disease in African Americans than
in Caucasians)
Modifiable Risk Factors
High blood cholesterol level
Cigarette smoking, tobacco use
Hypertension
Diabetes mellitus
Lack of estrogen in women
Physical inactivity
Obesity
.

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