Coronary artery distribution in bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata)

Full use of nonhuman primates as a model for coronary vascular disease has been hampered by several factors, including the limited availability of detailed coronary anatomic data. This study was undertaken to identify the gross coronary arterial anatomy of the Bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata). The hearts of sixteen adult male Bonnet monkeys were subjected to postmortem coronary angiography and gross morphological examination. The main left coronary artery divided into the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and the left circumflex coronary artery (LCA). The posterior descending coronary artery (PDCA) arose from the LCA in 31% of the cases and from the right coronary artery (RCA) in 56% of the hearts. Hearts from two animals (13%) had paired arteries, arising from the LCA and RCA, located in the posterior interventricular groove. The arterial supply to the sinoatrial node originated from the LCA in 69% of the animals and from the RCA in the remainder. The atrioventricular node was supplied by a branch of the RCA in 69% of the animals and from the LCA in the remainder. The coronary anatomy of the bonnet monkey resembles that of man more closely than does the dog in terms of origin of the PDCA, supply of the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes, and perfusion of the interventricular septum. The Bonnet monkey may therefore be a useful model for certain specific pathophysiological studies on the coronary circulation.     

Functional dominance of the right coronary artery: Incidence in the human heart

After injection of radiopaque medium, 200 human hearts were studied by direct observation and x-ray analysis. The right coronary artery (RC) was dominant in 178 of these hearts as characterized by giving off the typical posterior interventricular artery (PIV), the posterior descending artery. Within this group, 19 specimens had right coronary arteries that gave off both a large posterior interventricular artery (LPIV) and a branch that continued beyond the crux termed a large extension of the right coronary (LERC). The subgroup of hearts supplied thusly was termed real right dominant (RRD). The RC in these hearts supplied the right ventricle and almost half of the left ventricle. These findings explain why proximal lesions of the RC in RRD hearts can be associated with extensive posterolateral ischemia and mitral dysfunction and should be of practical importance when considering angioplasty or by-pass surgery. The diameters and lengths of the arteries of the RC in RRD hearts were measured and compared with the same parameters in typical right dominant hearts. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

长白猪与成年人房室交点区的解剖学比较

目的 观测家猪房室交点区解剖学特征,为比较解剖学积累资料.方法 采用30例长白猪心脏在新鲜状态下测量房室交点区相关数据,建立几何模型处理数据.10％甲醛固定48 h后,用过氯乙烯—丙酮填充剂灌注左、右冠状动脉及其分支,心大静脉及其属支.解剖并观测房室交点区结构.结果 左、右后房室沟和后室间沟呈“Y”型相交.后房间沟呈弧...     

Anatomical study of a left single coronary artery with special reference to the various distribution patterns of bilateral coronary arteries

A left single coronary artery of heart was observed during anatomy practice at Kumamoto University School of Medicine in a 73-year-old female cadaver who died from a thalamic hemorrhage. The left single coronary artery, having a single orifice in the left aortic sinus, bifurcated into the anterior interventricular (IVa) and circumflex (CIR) arteries. No orifice of the right coronary artery was found on the aortic wall. Giving off a branch which traversed the upper part of the infundibulum to supply the anterior upper region of the right ventricle, the IVa descended in the anterior interventricular sulcus to supply the apex of the heart. The CIR curved leftwards in the atrioventricular sulcus to reach the posterior surface, after which it continued to emerge again into the anterior surface. The atrial arteries showed no anomalous distribution pattern and histological observation revealed no pathological abnormality other than a slightly thickened tunica intima. Furthermore, we observed the distribution patterns of bilateral coronary arteries in 377 hearts dissected during anatomical practice over 13 years at Kanazawa University (1980–1986) and Kumamoto University (1993–1998). Although the reason why only the right coronary artery was absent is left unexplained, it was concluded that the left single coronary artery in this study, having the developed left conal and circumflex branches, was an extreme case of the left dominant series of coronary arteries. The formation of single coronary arteries can be explained embryologically by the change of flow in the capillary plexus established on the ventricle wall.     

The anatomy of the coronary sinus and its tributaries

The coronary sinus and its tributaries were studied by anatomical dissection in 37 adult human cadaveric hearts, which had been fixed in formalin solution. An anastomosis of approximately 1.0mm in calibre was observed between the anterior and posterior interventricular veins in 19% of specimens. Myocardial bridges were detected above the anterior interventricular vein or its tributaries in 8% of specimens. The great cardiac vein formed the base of the arteriovenous trigone of Brocq and Mouchet with the bifurcating branches of the left coronary artery in 89% of specimens and formed an angle accompanying these arterial branches in 11%. In the trigone the anterior interventricular and great cardiac veins were superficial to the arteries in 73% of specimens. The left marginal vein was present in 97% of specimens, emptying into the great cardiac vein in 81% of cases and into the coronary sinus in the remaining 19%. The small cardiac vein was present in 54% of specimens. In the coronary sulcus the great cardiac vein was adjacent to the circumflex branch of the left coronary artery in 76% of specimens and to the right coronary artery in 5% in 19% there was no relationship with either artery. The coronary sinus maintained a relationship with the right coronary artery in 46% of specimens and with the left coronary artery in 32% in 22% it had no relationship with these vessels.     

羊心左冠状动脉形态学观察

目的　探讨羊心脏左冠状动脉的解剖结构 ,丰富动物实验资料。方法　局解手术学实验后处死山羊 ,取羊心 90例 ,经 10 %甲醛固定 ,手工剥制显示左冠状动脉 ,6例用过氯乙烯 乙酸乙脂填充剂注入冠状动脉中制成动脉血管铸型 ,测量左冠状动脉及其分支。结果　羊冠状动脉分左、右冠状动脉 ,左冠状动脉粗大较浅表 ,前降支行于心肌表面或深达心肌不能明视 ,上多附有心肌桥 ,旋支粗大行程长分支多 ,二者之间多有对角支出现。羊心冠状动脉为左优势性。结论　羊冠状动脉与人相比有较大差异     

The relationship of myocardial bridges to coronary artery dominance in the adult human heart

Myocardial bridging is recognized as an anatomical variation of the human coronary circulation in which an epicardial artery lies in the myocardium for part of its course. Thus, the vessel is 'bridged' by myocardium. The anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery has been reported as the most common site of myocardial bridges but other locations have been reported. The purpose of this study was to provide more definitive information on the vessels with myocardial bridges, the length and depth of the bridged segment, and the relationship between the presence of bridges and coronary dominance. Two hundred formalin-fixed human hearts were examined. Myocardial bridges were found in 69 (34.5%) of the hearts with a total of 81 bridges. One bridge was found in 59 of these hearts and multiple bridges were observed in ten (eight with double bridges and two with triple bridges). Bridges were most often found over the anterior interventricular artery (35 hearts). Bridges were also found over the diagonal branch of the left coronary artery (14), over the left marginal branch (five) and over the inferior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery (six). Bridges were also found over the right coronary artery (15 hearts), over the right marginal branch (four) and over the inferior interventricular branch of the right coronary artery (two). The presence of bridges appeared to be related to coronary dominance, especially in the left coronary circulation. Forty-six (66.6%) of the hearts with bridges were left dominant. Forty-two of these had bridges over the left coronary circulation and four over the right coronary circulation. Seventeen hearts (24.6%) were right dominant. Eleven of these had bridges over the right coronary circulation and six over the left coronary circulation. The remaining six hearts were co-dominant with four having bridges over the left coronary circulation and two over the right coronary circulation. The mean length of the bridges was 31 mm and the mean depth was 12 mm. The possible clinical implications of myocardial bridging may vary from protection against atherosclerosis to systolic vessel compression and resultant myocardial ischaemia.     

Histological recognition and classification of the atrioventricular node artery variants: a new approach

BackgroundThere is a controversy in the literature concerning the origin, course, and distribution of the atrioventricular (AV) node artery.MethodsPostmortem coronary angiography, dissection, and microscopic examination were performed in 100 human hearts specimens, providing anatomical, histological, and postmortem angiographic features of the AV node artery.ResultsTwo anatomical types of AV node artery, depending on its length (long–short), were found. “Long-length” (LL) AV node artery supplied with blood almost all the AV conducting tissue in 72 cases. It consisted of a horizontal and descending part ending in two branches. “Short-length” (SL) AV node artery had only a horizontal part, perfusing exclusively the AV node and several times the nonpenetrating main bundle of His. In 67 of 100 cases, the AV arteries were arising from the right coronary artery, distal to the posterior descending (PD) artery. The AV node artery never originated from the PD artery. In 54 of 100 cases, it passed under the coronary sinus (CS) and in the remaining 46 it passed underneath the right atrium endocardium.ConclusionsThe above-described postmortem coronary angiographic findings are essential for interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. Damage to the LL or SL type of AV node artery may cause severe or limited AV conduction abnormalities, respectively. Furthermore, the course of AV node artery under the CS makes it susceptible to injuries provoked by diagnostic or therapeutic procedures involving the CS area.     

Changes in the angioarchitectonics of the heart in sudden coronary death

Changes in cardiac angioarchitectonics were studied in 60 cases of sudden coronary death and in 20 controls by means of multiprojection, quantitative coronarography and WHO standard anatomic method. A significant rate (60%) of stenotic atherosclerotic and dilatational (40%) changes was revealed in 3 major coronary arteries. Rearrangement of collateral circulation with the development of myocardial hypervascularization signs was found in 53.3% of cases, with the formation of "new" coronary path ways in 26.7%, and complete bypass blood flow in 20% of cases. Frequent stenoses of the anterior branch of the interventricular septum and sinus node artery were revealed, as well as intramural localization of the anterior interventricular artery due to myocardial muscular bridges, decrease of vascularization density in the left ventricular posterior wall myocardium and septum.     

Arterial vascularisation of the atrioventricular node

The aim of this study was to define the anatomic characteristics of the principal arterial source of the atrioventricular node, known as the artery of the atrioventricular node. Forty hearts were studied by various anatomic and radiologic methods dissection, injection-dissection, injection-corrosion and injection-radiography, but only 23 results were interpretable. The right coronary artery represented the commonest arterial source of the atrioventricular node (21/23 hearts) but numerous variations in the origin and topography of the nodal artery were found.     

Cardiac conduction system in the chicken: Gross anatomy plus light and electron microscopy

Twenty-three chicken hearts were used to study the cardiac conduction system by light and electron microscopy. In addition to a sinus node, atrioventricular node (AVN), His bundle, left and right bundle branches (LBB, RBB), the chicken also has an AV Purkinje ring and a special middle bundle branch (MBB). The sinus node lies near the base of the lower portion of the right sinoatrial valve. The AV node is just above the tricuspid valve and anterior to the coronary sinus. The His bundle descends from the anterior and inferior margin of the AV node into the interventricular septum, then dividing into right, left and middle branches some distance below the septal crest. The middle bundle branch turns posteriorly toward the root of the aorta. The AV Purkinje ring originates from the proximal AV node and then encircles the right AV orifice, joining the MBB to form a figure-of-eight loop. The chicken conduction system contains four types of myocytes: (1) The P cell is small and rounded, with a relatively large nucleus and sparse myofibrils. (2) The transitional cell is slender and full of myofibrils. (3) The Purkinje-like cell resembles the typical Purkinje cell, but is smaller and darker. (4) The Purkinje cell is found in the His bundle, its branches, and the periarterial and subendocardial Purkinje network. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Investigation of coronary arteries in the porcupine (Hystrix cristata) by latex injection and angiography

Coronary arteries were investigated in the porcupine by means of angiography performed on each of 5 adult porcupines (3 male, 2 female) which was followed by injection of a colored latex mixture from the aortic arch for the demonstration of these arteries. The results showed that the aorta branched out at the level of the cardiac outlet to form the left and right coronary arteries and right ramus coni arteriosi. Coronary arteries coursed and ramified in the myocardium. The left coronary artery divided to form the paraconal interventricular artery and left circumflex artery when it reached the coronary sulcus. The interventricular septum was vascularized by the septal branch of the paraconal interventricular artery and by the small septal branches. The left and right coronary arteries gave off all the branches reported in the literature for other species. When the ramus coni arteriosi originates from the right coronary artery, it is designated a third coronary artery. In conclusion, it was found that the coronary arteries of the porcupine had an "intramyocardial course" as in other rodents. The coronary supply of the heart represented a "left coronary type" which was similar to those of carnivores and ruminants. The results of this study may contribute to the data in this area of science.     

Anatomy and vasculature of a minke whale heart

The heart from a 4-m-long minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) was studied to determine the details of its anatomy and to consider cardiac adaptations to diving. The volume fraction (Vvc) of capillaries in the wall of the left ventricle was determined at different levels from base to apex and at different depths from epi- to endocardium using a light microscopic stereologic technique. Typical of cetaceans, this minke whale heart was distinctly flattened dorsoventrally. A moderator band, characteristic of ungulate hearts, spanned the right ventricle. The right and left atrioventricular valves were tricuspid and bicuspid, respectively. The right coronary artery supplied the dorsal and right lateral myocardium. The left coronary artery supplied the ventral and left lateral myocardium. An anastomosis between the dorsal and ventral interventricular arteries occurred in the dorsal interventricular groove. Stereologically, a decreasing transmural gradient in Vvc was identified between the epicardium and the subepicardium at 15 cm from the apex. Our results, however, did not reveal any significant deviations in the pattern of capillary distribution in the wall of the left ventricle between this baleen whale and terrestrial mammals. Measurements of the heart, great vessels, coronary vasculature, and ventricular walls are also given, and they suggest a physiologic and adaptive right ventricular hypertrophy. Based on these and other observations, we propose that the relatively great thickness of the right ventricle and the distinctive shape of the cetacean heart are adaptations to the hemodynamic changes and collapse of the thorax associated with apneic diving.     

Variations of the origin of the artery of the sinoatrial node in normal human hearts

Summary The artery of the sino-atrial node was studied in 100 normal human hearts after injection of each coronary artery with coloured gelatine containing a radiopaque substance. The hearts belonged to 69 males and 31 females, being 64 Caucasians and 36 non-Caucasians (Negroes and Mulattoes) whose age ranged from 7 to 80 years. Since the individuals had committed suicide or were victims of accidents, their hearts, after pathologists' evaluation, were considered normal. The sinoatrial node of the normal human heart is supplied by the right coronary artery more frequently (58%±4.9% of the cases) than by the left (42%±4.9). The right anterior medial atrial artery, originating from the right coronary at the level of the medial third of the right anterior quadrant of the atrial dome, is most frequently (50%±5) responsible for the blood supply of the sinoatrial node. Among the branches of the left coronary artery, the left anterior medial atrial artery, originating at the level of the medial third of the left. anterior quadrant of the atrial cupola, was the most frequent blood supplier (25%±4.3) of the sinoatrial node. The origin of the artery of the sinoatrial node from the proximal portion or trunk of the left coronary artery was less frequent (12%±3.2) than the origin from the circumflex artery (30%±4.5). Neither sex nor race influenced the variations of the origin of the sino-atrial node.

---

Variations d'origine de l'artère du noeud sinu-atrial du coeur humain normal

Résumé L'a. du noeud sinu-atrial a été étudiée sur 100 coeurs humains normaux après injection de chaque a. coronaire à la gélatine colorée additionnée d'une substance radio-opaque. Les coeurs provenaient de 69 hommes et 31 femmes, 64 caucasiens et 36 non caucasiens (nègres et mulâtres) âgés de 7 à 80 ans. Ces sujets étant décédés par suicide ou des suites d'accidents, leurs coeurs ont été considérés comme normaux après examen anatomo-pathologique. Le noeud sinu-atrial du coeur humain est vascularisé par l'a. coronaire droite plus fréquemment (58 %±4,9) que par l'a. coronaire gauche (42 %±4). L'a. atriale antéro-médiale droite, issue de l'a. coronaire droite au niveau du tiers médial du quadrant antérieur droit du dôme atrial est l'artère la plus fréquemment en cause (50 %±5) dans la vascularisation du noeud sinuatrial. Parmi les branches de l'a. coronaire gauche, l'a. atriale antéro-médiale gauche, née au niveau du tiers médial du quadrant antérieur gauche du dôme atrial, était la branche la plus fréquemment en cause (25 %±4,3) dans la vascularisation du noeud sinu-atrial. La naissance de l'a. du noeud sinu-atrial à partir de la partie proximale ou du tronc de l'a. coronaire gauche était moins fréquente (12 %±3,2) que son origine à partir du rameau circonflexe (30 %±4,5). Les variations d'origine de l'a. du noeud sinu-atrial n'apparaissaient pas influencées par le sexe ou la race.

     

Intersection patterns of human coronary veins and arteries

Intersections between the coronary veins (CV) and arteries (CA) of 103 adult human hearts were mapped on the heart surface. Then the correlations of these intersection patterns to their localization were studied. Eight spots were selected where one of four major CV (anterior cardiac vein, middle cardiac vein, left posterior ventricular vein, and great cardiac vein) intersected with one of CA and their branches (right coronary artery, posterior interventricular branch, left posterior ventricular branch, circumflex branch, diagonal branch, and anterior interventricular branch). The great cardiac vein (GCV) ran beneath the anterior interventricular branch in 56 specimens out of 103, beneath the diagonal branch in 75 specimens out of 103, and beneath the circumflex branch in 36 specimens out of 103, while the other CV mostly ran over CA. The present observations suggest that the CV on the right side may be formed prior to CA, while the CV on the left side may be formed simultaneously with CA.     

Anatomical and neurohistological observation of the heart of the jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica (Latham.).

Anatomy, histology and innervation of the heart of the jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica have been described. The cardiac conducting system is well developed except the atrioventricular node. The sinuatrial node is located at the cephalic end of the interatrial septum and comprised of a large number of specialised muscle fibres enclosing a few small nodal arteries. A few syncytial cells could also be observed. The atrioventricular node is small, rounded and compact mass present at the ventrocaudal end of the interatrial septum. The node is not enclosed by any connective tissue sheath. Atrioventricular bundle is quite conspicuous and a special left bundle branch descends from it and extending to the left ventricle. The presence of special left bundle branch probably helps in pumping the pure blood of left ventricle with a great force. The heart of the jungle bush quail is richly innervated. Large number of nerve fibres and ganglion cells are present at the sulcus terminalis and atrioventricular sulcus. Fine nerve fibres are also present in the mass of sinuatrial node, atrioventricular node, atrioventricular bundle and its branches. Nerve cells are found to be absent in the conducting system. A nervous connection exists between the sinuatrial node and atrioventricular node. Nerve fibres are also seen in the ventricular myocardium and at the sites of aortic arches.     

A macroscopic anatomical investigation of atrioventricular bundle locational variation relative to the membranous part of the ventricular septum in elderly human hearts

Although several gross anatomical investigations on the cardiac conducting system have been published, most have presented gross anatomical observations after histological confirmation. This is because of the difficulty in dissecting the conducting system itself. Additionally, the conducting system has hitherto been represented schematically and/or histologically, even in recent regional anatomical color atlases of the heart. Therefore most researchers and clinicians rarely view a conducting system at the macroscopic level. In this study we reveal the detailed-gross anatomical architecture and normal variations in the conducting system using 105 elderly human hearts. In particular, we focused on the location of the atrioventricular bundle relative to the membranous part of the interventricular septum because it has commonly been used as a landmark to identify the conducting system. Consequently we found locational variations in the atrioventricular bundle to be relatively more frequent in 56 cases (53.3%), in contrast to 49 (46.7%) ordinary cases in which this bundle ran just along the lower border of the membranous part of the interventricular septum. In the former cases we also emphasized the clinical significance of the naked atrioventricular bundle running on the membranous part of the interventricular septum in 22 cases (21.0%). Some types of lower atrioventricular bundle variation would be important for cardiac surgery, especially the operation of the interventricular septal defect and can be explained from the developmental viewpoint, i.e., the atrioventricular bundle has its origin in the mixture of specialized myocardinal rings.     

人体心脏房室结、房室环及主动脉后结的巨微解剖

目的解剖分离人体心脏房室结和房室环的结构,阐述它们的形态特征及相互关系。方法通过体视显微镜解剖12例人体心脏的房室结、主动脉后结及房室环,再进行组织学观察,并绘图演示它们的结构关系。结果在二尖瓣环和三尖瓣环靠近冠状窦前缘处分别暴露了左、右房室环(12/12),直径分别为(0.69±0.12)mm、(0.78±0.13)mm。此处的左、右房室环穿行在房室隔内的心房肌与心室肌之间的间隙中,向房室结方向延伸。主动脉后结在主动脉根后方的房间隔中被探查到(7/9),它的后上方的房间隔间隙中有肌纤维与其相连,它的前下方分出左、右房室环,并且此处的左环比右环粗。在中心纤维体后方的心内膜下的深部,主动脉后结与房室结之间有直接的心肌组织连接通路,这条通路有别于另两条通路(左、右房室环)。结论主动脉后结和房室环可通过体视显微镜解剖暴露,主动脉后结与房室结之间有3条通路。     

犬左冠状动脉前室间支心肌桥的形态学特征

目的探讨犬壁冠状动脉和心肌桥的形态学特点,为比较解剖学提供资料。方法取犬心41例,10%甲醛溶液固定,解剖显示冠状动脉及其分支,观测心肌桥及壁冠状动脉的出现率。结果犬冠状动脉心肌桥多出现于前室间支、后室间支和左室前支。心肌桥出现率70.7%,前室间支79.3%,心肌桥厚度为0.56±0.61 mm。前室间支前段内径1.64±0.46 mm,厚度0.18±0.06 mm;壁冠状动脉内径1.35±0.46 mm,厚度0.13±0.04 mm。心肌桥近段距第一对角支距离为19.78±8.20 mm,距前室间支起始部距离为24.49±12.37mm,距右冠起始部距离为24.21±5.80 mm。心肌桥纤维走向与壁冠状动脉夹角为68.94±14.38。结论犬冠状动脉心肌桥出现率及位置与人相似,可作为科研动物模型。