morphology and morphometry of coronary ostia in south indian adult human cadaveric hearts

Abstract

The coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the developing countries and one of the causes of coronary heart disease is the anomalous origin of coronary arteries. Anatomic knowledge of coronary ostia and its normal variations are important while performing therapeutic and diagnostic procedures for cardiothoracic surgeon and radiologists. The aim of the present study was to analyze the morphology and morphometry of coronary ostia. Material and methods: The present study was done on 77 adult human cadaveric heart specimens from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. Location and position of each coronary ostium was noted with respect to aortic sinus and sinutubular junction. Horizontal diameter of coronary ostia was measured with the help of vernier caliper. Result: Right coronary artery was arising from anterior aortic sinus in all the heart specimens, left coronary artery was arising from left posterior aortic sinus in all the specimens except in one specimen, in which it was arising from anterior aortic sinus. Minute accessory coronary ostia were observed in anterior aortic sinus in 12 specimens (15.5%). Out of 77 heart specimens; for the right coronary artery, 64 (83%) ostia were located below ST junction, 11 (14%) at the ST junction and 2 (3%) above the ST junction. For the left coronary artery, 60 (78%) ostia were located below ST junction, 12 (15%) at the ST junction and 5 (7%) above the ST junction. In 55 (71.42%) specimens, both right and left coronary ostia were below ST junction. The mean horizontal diameter with SD of right coronary and left coronary ostia was 3.9± 1.0 mm (range 3.0-7.o mm) and 4.6 ±1.0 mm (range 3.0-7.0 mm) respectively. In majority of specimens left coronary ostia were larger than the right coronary ostia.