Coronary artery dominance
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Coronary Artery Dominance
- The dominance of coronary circulation is determined by the type of arteries that supply the posterior and inferior wall of the left ventricle.
- The artery that supplies the posterior descending artery (PDA) and the posterolateral artery (PLA) determines the coronary dominance.
- Right-dominant circulation: The right coronary artery (RCA) supplies both these arteries.
- Left-dominant circulation: The circumflex artery (CX), a branch of the left artery, supplies both these arteries.
- Co-dominant circulation: The RCA supplies the PDA and the CX supplies the PLA.
- Approximately 60% of the general population are right-dominant, 25% are co-dominant, and 15% are left-dominant.[1]
Describes how many of the three major branches supplying the inferior wall of the heart arise from the right coronary artery (RCA) and how many arise from the circumflex artery (CX).
Large Right Dominance
This occurs when the descending, inferior, and posterior branches all arise from the RCA.
Small Right Dominance
This occurs when the descending and inferior branches arise from the RCA and the posterior branch arises from the CX.
Co-dominance
This occurs when only the descending branch arises from the RCA, while the inferior and posterior branches arise from the CX.
Left Dominance
This occurs when all three branches arise from the CX.
