Coronary circulation refers to the circulation of blood in blood vessels of the human heart. It is an essential process that delivers oxygen-rich blood to the coronary arteries. In addition to supplying the heart with blood, coronary circulation provides drainage systems to remove deoxygenated blood.
Coronary circulation is achieved through the heart’s blood vessels. These vessels are paramount to provide the myocardium with the blood, oxygen and nutrients required to pump blood throughout the human body.
Coronary circulation occurs in the coronary arteries, which extend from the aorta to carry blood to the heart muscle. The human heart consists of two coronary arteries that arise from the aorta. During the coronary circulation process, blood is transferred into the coronary arteries and then returned through the coronary veins to the chambers of the heart.
The pulmonary and systemic loops are the primary coronary circulation systems in the cardiovascular system. Pulmonary circulation transports the deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs, where the blood absorbs oxygen and dumps it off to the left side of the heart. The right ventricle and right atrium are the pumping chambers that support pulmonary coronary circulation.
Systemic circulation transfers oxygenated blood from the left side of the heart to the body’s tissue systems. This form of coronary circulation is essential for eliminating waste from the body’s tissues and returning deoxygenated blood to the right side of the heart muscle. The left ventricle and left atrium are essential for carrying out systemic circulation.
