Right coronary artery

At a glance

English

Right coronary artery

Latin (TA2)

Arteria coronaria dextra

System

Heart

Region

Trunk

Side

Single, on the midline

About the right coronary artery

Usually abbreviated RCA, the right coronary artery opens from the right aortic sinus, the bulge of the aortic root over the valve's right coronary cusp. It first passes forwards between the pulmonary trunk and the right auricle, then drops into the right part of the coronary sulcus, the groove between the right atrium and right ventricle. It follows that groove down the front of the heart, turns round the sharp lower right (acute) margin and runs back along the diaphragmatic surface towards the crux, the point behind where the atrioventricular groove crosses the inferior interventricular groove.

For description and angiography it is divided into three stretches: a proximal segment from the opening to halfway towards the acute margin, a middle segment ending at that margin, and a distal segment from the margin to the start of the posterior (inferior) interventricular artery at the crux.

Early branches are the conus artery to the outflow of the right ventricle and, in most people, the sinoatrial nodal artery to the pacemaker. Further on it gives atrial and anterior ventricular branches and the right marginal artery along the acute margin. Near the crux it usually gives the artery to the atrioventricular node and, in most hearts, the posterior interventricular artery, which defines a right-dominant circulation. In the rest the latter comes from the circumflex or from both arteries. Very rarely the RCA itself arises from the left aortic sinus.

Its area of supply covers the right atrium and right ventricle, the back and lower part of the septum and part of the diaphragmatic wall of the left ventricle, with much overlap from the left coronary artery. Blockage typically produces an inferior infarct and, through the nodal branches, slow rhythms or heart block.

Function and supply

Begins at

The right aortic sinus of the ascending aorta, above the right coronary cusp of the aortic valve.

Ends at

Ends near the crux on the diaphragmatic surface, usually by giving the posterior interventricular artery and right posterolateral branches; gives conus, nodal, atrial and right marginal branches on the way.

Function

Supplies the right atrium and right ventricle, the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes in most people, the posterior third of the interventricular septum and part of the inferior wall of the left ventricle.