The coronary arteries are blood vessels that wrap around the heart, on the surface of the heart.  They deliver oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle to perform its job.

The right coronary artery (RCA) supplies blood to the right side and bottom of the heart.

The left main coronary artery is a short vessel with two large arteries:

Left anterior descending (LAD) artery supplies blood to the front left side of the heart

Circumflex artery (CXA) supplies blood to the back of the heart

The above arteries have many branches, which supply the heart with enough blood and oxygen; as long as they are healthy and unclogged.

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the hardening and narrowing – atherosclerosis – of the coronary arteries.

The lining inside of the artery can be damaged by smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and other risk factors.

Fatty deposits stick to the damaged part of the lining to form a plaque.  Over time as fatty deposits build up, the inside of the arteries narrow, and less blood can get through.

These plaques can partially or totally block off the blood flow to the heart muscle.  This may result in a heart attack (myocardial infarction) with permanent damage to the heart muscle.  In this case, the affected area of the heart can no longer help the heart to pump blood.

Coronary artery disease can present with no symptoms, Angina Pectoris, or heart attack.