Morphologic expression of the left coronary artery in pigs. An approach in relation to human heart

Introduction

In spite of its importance as an experimental model, the information on the leftcoronary artery in pigs is sparse.

Objective

To determine the morphologic features of the left coronary artery in pigs.

Methods

We evaluated 158 pig hearts. The left coronary artery was perfused with syntheticresin after their ostia had been catheterized. Diameters and courses of thevascular beds were measured with an electronic caliper (Mitutoyo^®).

Results

The diameter of left coronary artery was 6.98 ± 1.56 mm and its length was3.51±0.99 mm. It was found to end up by bifurcating itself into the anteriorinterventricular artery and the circumflex artery in 79% of the cases, and bytrifurcating in 21% of the cases, with the presence of the diagonal artery. Theanterior interventricular artery ended up at the apex in 79.7% of the cases, andthe circumflex artery at the posterior aspect of the left ventricle in 64% of thecase, this artery never reached the posterior interventricular sulcus. Ananastomosis between the terminal branches of the anterior interventricular arteryand the posterior interventricular artery was found in 7.6% of the specimens. Theantero-superior branch of the anterior interventricular artery occurred in 89.9%of the hearts. A left marginal branch was observed in 87.9% of the cases with adiameter of 2.25±0.55 mm.

Conclusion

Compared with humans, pigs have shorter left coronary artery trunks and branches;even the circumflex artery never reaches the posterior interventricular sulcus.Our findings are useful for the design of experimental hemodynamic and proceduralmodels.