Circumflex Artery (Noun)
Meaning
Any of several paired curving arteries.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The left circumflex artery is a branch of the left coronary artery that supplies blood to the left atrium and the lateral and posterior walls of the left ventricle.
- The right circumflex artery is a smaller branch that arises from the right coronary artery and supplies blood to the right atrium and the right ventricle.
- The circumflex artery is a critical blood vessel that can become narrowed or blocked, leading to a heart attack.
- During coronary angiography, the doctor injects a contrast dye into the circumflex artery to visualize any blockages or narrowing.
- Damage to the circumflex artery can lead to ischemia and infarction of the heart muscle, resulting in chest pain and shortness of breath.