Left anterior descending coronary artery

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery

Illustration of the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery (LAD) from Gray's Anatomy

The Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery (LAD) is one of the two main coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. It is a branch of the left coronary artery and is considered the most critical of the coronary arteries due to its supply to a large portion of the left ventricle.

Anatomy[edit | edit source]

The LAD runs down the anterior interventricular groove. It gives off two types of branches: diagonal branches and septal branches. The diagonal branches supply the anterior and lateral walls of the left ventricle, while the septal branches supply the anterior two-thirds of the interventricular septum.

Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]

The LAD is commonly involved in coronary artery disease, and blockage can lead to a type of myocardial infarction known as an anterior wall MI. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) are two common treatments for LAD blockage.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]



WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD