SEGMENTARY ANALYSIS OF THE CORONARY-ARTERY DISTRIBUTION IN THE LEFT-VENTRICLE

In a series of 90 human hearts, from individuals aged between 4 days a nd 94 years (X = 61.09 +/- 21.96) the coronary arterial distribution o f the left ventricle (LV) was studied using Selvester's system of segm entation[24]. Postmortem angiographies and microdissection techniques were used. The analysis of the 12 segments of the LV showed that the t hree septal segments (basal, mesial and apical) present a type of irri gation which is practically constant and of a dual type. The superoapi cal, posterobasal and posteromesial segments present an irrigation wit h a high index of exclusivity for the anterior interventricular and ci rcumflex arteries. In the rest of the segments the vascularization is of a mixed type, although the apical segments reach an important degre e of arterial exclusivity. The analysis by segments of the LV allows u s to conclude that the arterial vascularization of the left ventricle depends fundamentally on the anterior interventricular artery and the left circumflex artery, which are those that present the greatest exte nsion, together with a small contribution by the right coronary artery , which is always minor with respect to the left coronary artery.