What it means
The heart muscle needs its own blood supply, carried by the coronary arteries that branch off the aorta and wrap around the heart. The main ones are the left main (which splits into the left anterior descending and circumflex arteries) and the right coronary artery. Narrowing of these arteries by plaque is coronary artery diseaseKOR-uh-nair-ee AR-tuh-ree dih-ZEEZNarrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, most often from fatty plaque buildup.Full entry ; a sudden blockage causes a myocardial infarctionmy-oh-KAR-dee-ul in-FARK-shunDeath of part of the heart muscle because its blood supply is blocked; a heart attack.my/o musclecardi/o heart-al having to do withinfarct area of dead tissueFull entry .
For the nurse
Chest pain, pressure or discomfort that spreads to the arm, jaw or back can mean too little blood is flowing through a coronary artery: check vital signs, get an ECG as ordered and report at once.
At a glance
| Spanish | arteria coronaria |
|---|---|
| Also written | coronary arteries |
Related terms
coronary artery disease
Narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, most often from fatty plaque buildup.
myocardial infarction
Death of part of the heart muscle because its blood supply is blocked; a heart attack.
artery
A blood vessel that takes blood from the heart out to the body.
atherosclerosis
A buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) inside the walls of the arteries.