A study on coronary predominance in cadaveric human hearts

Abstract

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in developed countries as well as developing countries. If the coronary arteries are narrowed, the blood supply to the cardiac muscle is reduced. Coronary angiography is a radiological procedure to visualize the coronary arteries. The coronary bypass surgery has become common for the treatment of patients with unstable angina and myocardial infarction. That′s why the knowledge of the coronary artery and their predominant pattern is necessary for the management of CHD. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 75 adult human hearts were collected and preserved in 10% formalin. The hearts were dissected carefully to observe the posterior inter-ventricular artery in the posterior inter-ventricular sulcus of each hearts. Results: Among 75 heart specimens, 46 showed right predominance, 18 showed left predominance and 11 showed balanced type of heart. Conclusion: According to this study, the right coronary artery is the predominant artery in majority of the cases in the cadaver of North Karnataka origin. So these people are less likely to be affected by the cardiac problems. This study might help cardiologists and radiologists for the better understanding and management of cardiac diseases.

Keywords

• Balanced type
• coronary predominance
• left predominance
• predominance
• right predominance
• heart
• coronary artery