DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CORONARY-ARTERIES IN THE HUMAN HEART - INTERCORONARY ARTERIAL CONTINUITY

Seven cases of intercoronary arterial continuity are described, which were obtained from a study of 100 human hearts in individuals with an average age (+/-standard deviation) of 61.09 years (+/-21.96). The met hods used in the study were postmortem coronary angiography and dissec tion. In those cases in which intercoronary continuity was found, a hi stologic study was performed on the connecting vessel, together with t he distal portions of the interconnected arteries. Of the 7 cases obse rved, 5 showed continuity between the anterior and posterior intervent ricular arteries, in the distal portion of the posterior interventricu lar groove. The remaining 2 cases showed continuity between the distal portions of the right coronary artery and the circumflex artery, occu rring in the posterior auriculoventricular groove. In all cases, conti nuity was by means of a single vessel in epicardial position, with a d iameter similar to that of the terminal portions of the interconnected arteries. The histologic structure of the connecting vessel had the c haracteristics of a normal arterial wall, so the authors conclude, the refore, that in these cases of intercoronary continuity reported in ad ult hearts, there is a persistence of the type of coronary circulation observed in the fetus.