The type of circulation and the predominance of the coronary arteries have a great interest in Cardiology as well as in Cardiac Surgery. There is a close relationship between the type of circulation and the risk of myocardial injuries after coronary obstruction. We carried out 50 normal hearts (35 males and 15 females) of 28 Caucasian and 22 non-caucasian individuals. The arteries were injected with colored gelatine. The average cardiac weight was 291 g and the ventricular length was 97 mm. The right coronary predominance was the most common pattern of distribution (72%) and is followed in incidence by a left coronary predominance (16%) and least frequently by a balanced circulation (12%). The incidence of branches crossing the crux cordis ranged from 1 to 5 (average 2,2) in right coronary predominance. On the other hand, in the left coronary predominance we found one branch in two hearts. The most frequent branch reaching the diaphragmatic from the sternocostal surface was the interventricuiaris anterioris ramus (50%).
coronary arteries; coronary arteries