Which artery passes around to supply the posterior surface of the heart, including the septum?

Which artery passes around to supply the posterior surface of the heart, including the septum?

• A. Circumflex artery
• B. Anterior descending artery
• C. Right coronary artery
• D. Posterior descending artery

Answer: (A)

The artery that travels around to the back of the heart and supplies the posterior surface, including parts of the septum, is the circumflex artery. It runs in the left coronary artery system, wrapping in the left atrioventricular groove to reach the posterior aspect of the heart. There it gives off branches to the left atrium and left ventricle, and in many individuals it also contributes to the posterior part of the interventricular septum via posterior branches, especially in left-dominant circulation.

The anterior descending artery stays on the front of the heart, supplying the anterior wall and the anterior two-thirds of the septum. The right coronary artery mainly supplies the right heart and usually gives rise to the posterior descending artery in many people, which runs in the posterior sulcus to supply the posterior wall and posterior septum, but it does not wrap around the heart’s posterior surface in the same way as the circumflex. The posterior descending artery is the path in the posterior sulcus itself, not the vessel that primarily encircles the heart to reach the posterior surface.