left coronary artery (anatomy)

Last reviewed 01/2018

The left coronary artery arises from the left aortic sinus. It passes a short distance to the left, posterior to the pulmonary trunk and anterior to the left auricle, to meet with the atrioventricular groove. At this point, it divides into two main branches:

• the circumflex artery
• the anterior interventricular artery

The left coronary artery branches to supply the:

• left atrium
• left ventricle
• interventricular septum - anterior section
• nodes:
• sinuatrial in 45% of the population
• atrioventricular node in 20% of the population