Anatomy of the Heart

The coronary vessels are responsible for the delivery of blood to the heart muscle, or myocardium. Coronary circulation enables oxygen delivery. Cardiac veins, on the other hand, return deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Those coronary vessels which run along the surface of the heart are known as epicardial arteries; those which run deep are called the subendocardial arteries.

Some regions of the body have redundant circulation, but not the regions to which these arteries deliver blood. There is no other way for blood to reach the heart other than these arteries. This is why blood circulation through the coronary arteries is so critical. Because these vessels are narrow, they are susceptible to atherosclerosis, which can lead to a blockage. If the vessels are blocked and there is no passage of blood through the coronary artery, that region of the heart will begin to die, causing angina or a heart attack.

In the United States, 2 people suffer from a coronary every second, and one person dies from a coronary event every second. It is the single leading cause of death in the U.S. The greatest risk factors, in this order, include, inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, and diabetes. These facts come from the Centers for Disease Control.

© 2004 Laura Maaske - Mediamgery LLC, illustrated by Laura Maaske - Medimagery LLC. All Rights Reserved. Contact Laura to request a reproduction license.

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