Inferior left ventricular branch of circumflex artery of heart
Ramus inferior ventriculi sinistri arteriae circumflexae cordis
- Latin synonym: Ramus posterior ventriculi sinistri arteriae circumflexae cordis; Ramus inferior ventriculi sinistri arteriae coronariae sinistrae; Ramus posterior ventriculi sinistri arteriae coronariae sinistrae
- Synonym: Posterior left ventricular branch of circumflex artery of heart; Inferior left ventricular branch of left coronary artery; Posterior left ventricular branch of left coronary artery; Posterior artery of left ventricle
- Related terms: Posterior left ventricular branch
Definition
The inferior left ventricular branch of the circumflex artery (Left posterolateral branch; LA/PLB) is a terminal branch of the left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) that arises from its distal segment as it courses through the posterior atrioventricular groove, and supplies the inferior and posterolateral walls of the left ventricle.
The presence and prominence of these inferior branches depend critically on coronary dominance:
In a left-dominant circulation (~810% of individuals), both the PDA and the posterolateral arteries (PLAs) arise from the left circumflex artery, making the LCx the primary supply to the entire inferior wall.
In a co-dominant circulation, the right coronary artery supplies the PDA while the circumflex supplies the PLAs; thus both arteries contribute to the inferior wall blood supply.
In a right-dominant circulation (~80% of individuals), the posterolateral branches arise from the right coronary artery, and the LCx contribution to the inferior wall is minimal.
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