7th February 2024

Summary

Coronary arteries are end arteries which supply oxygenated blood to cardiac myocytes. Cardiac veins then remove deoxygenated blood from cardiac myocytes.

Coronary blood flow is around 200-250mL/min at rest.

Coronary blood flow in the left ventricle occurs only during systole. During ventricular systole, left ventricular pressure is higher than aortic pressure, compressing subendocardial coronary vessels in the left ventricle.

Coronary blood flow in the right ventricle continues throughout the cardiac cycle. Aortic pressure is greater than right ventricular pressure during ventricular systole and diastole.

Hence, the left ventricle is most at risk from ischaemia.