Anterior interventricular branch of left coronary artery
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
LAD can also refer to Leukocyte adhesion deficiency
The "LAD", or left anterior descending artery (or anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery, or anterior descending branch) passes at first behind the pulmonary artery and then comes forward between that vessel and the left auricula to reach the anterior interventricular sulcus, along which it descends to the incisura apicis cordis.
In 78% of cases, it reaches the apex of the heart.
It supplies the anterolateral myocardium, apex, and interventricular septum. The LAD typically supplies 45-55% of the left ventricle (LV).
The LAD gives off two types of branches: septals and diagonals.
- Septals originate from the LAD at 90 degrees to the surface of the heart, perforating and supplying the intraventricular septum.
- Diagonals run along the surface of the heart and supply the lateral wall of the LV and the anterolateral papillary muscle.
External links
- Template:EMedicineDictionary
- Template:SUNYAnatomyLabs - "Heart: The Left Coronary Artery and its Branches"
- Template:SUNYAnatomyFigs - "Anterior view of the heart."
- Template:GPnotebook