The atrioventricular nodal branch is a
coronary artery
The coronary arteries are the arterial blood vessels of coronary circulation, which transport oxygenated blood to the heart muscle. The heart requires a continuous supply of oxygen to function and survive, much like any other tissue or organ of ...
that supplies arterial blood to the
atrioventricular node
The atrioventricular node (AV node, or Aschoff-Tawara node) electrically connects the heart's atria and ventricles to coordinate beating in the top of the heart; it is part of the electrical conduction system of the heart. The AV node lies at the ...
, which is responsible for
initiating muscular contraction of the
ventricles. The AV nodal branch is most often a branch of the
right coronary artery
In the coronary circulation, blood supply of the heart, the right coronary artery (RCA) is an artery originating above the right cusp of the aortic valve, at the Aortic sinus, right aortic sinus in the heart. It travels down the right coronary su ...
.
Structure
Origin
The atrioventricular nodal branch sees significant variation in origin:
* proximal posterolateral branch from the
right coronary artery
In the coronary circulation, blood supply of the heart, the right coronary artery (RCA) is an artery originating above the right cusp of the aortic valve, at the Aortic sinus, right aortic sinus in the heart. It travels down the right coronary su ...
in around 77%.
* distal posterolateral branch from the
right coronary artery
In the coronary circulation, blood supply of the heart, the right coronary artery (RCA) is an artery originating above the right cusp of the aortic valve, at the Aortic sinus, right aortic sinus in the heart. It travels down the right coronary su ...
in around 2%.
* distal
right coronary artery
In the coronary circulation, blood supply of the heart, the right coronary artery (RCA) is an artery originating above the right cusp of the aortic valve, at the Aortic sinus, right aortic sinus in the heart. It travels down the right coronary su ...
in around 10%.
* right
posterior interventricular artery
In the coronary circulation, the posterior descending artery (PDA), also called the posterior interventricular artery (PIV, PIA, or PIVA), is an artery running in the posterior interventricular sulcus to the apex of the heart where it meets with ...
in around 7%.
* distal
circumflex branch of left coronary artery
The circumflex branch of left coronary artery (also known as the left circumflex artery or circumflex artery) is a branch of the left coronary artery. It winds around the left side of the heart along the atrioventricular groove (coronary sulc ...
in around 4%.
The right coronary artery supplies the
atrioventricular node
The atrioventricular node (AV node, or Aschoff-Tawara node) electrically connects the heart's atria and ventricles to coordinate beating in the top of the heart; it is part of the electrical conduction system of the heart. The AV node lies at the ...
in around 90% of people.
In approximately 2% of people, the vascular supply to the atrioventricular node arises from both the right coronary artery and the left circumflex branch.
[Sow ML, Ndoye JM, Lo EA. The artery of the atrioventricular node: an anatomic study based on 38 injection-dissections. Surg Radiol Anat 1996;18:183–187]
Function
The atrioventricular nodal branch supplies the
atrioventricular node
The atrioventricular node (AV node, or Aschoff-Tawara node) electrically connects the heart's atria and ventricles to coordinate beating in the top of the heart; it is part of the electrical conduction system of the heart. The AV node lies at the ...
, allowing for
excitation of the
ventricles.
See also
*
Coronary circulation
Coronary circulation is the Circulatory system#Coronary vessels, circulation of blood in the arteries and veins that supply the cardiac muscle, heart muscle (myocardium).
Coronary arteries supply oxygen saturation (medicine), oxygenated blood to ...
References
{{Authority control
Arteries of the thorax