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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Morphological Sciences 2016; 33(03): 138-141
DOI: 10.4322/jms.093115
Original Article
Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Morphometric analysis of the coronary arteries: a study of the external diameters

J. M. L. Silva
1   Laboratory of Biomorphology and Experimental Pathology, Center of Health Science, Universidade Severino Sombra - USS, Av. Expedicionário Osvaldo de Almeida Ramos, 280, Centro, CEP 27700-000, Vassouras, RJ, Brazil
,
A. C. Nagato
1   Laboratory of Biomorphology and Experimental Pathology, Center of Health Science, Universidade Severino Sombra - USS, Av. Expedicionário Osvaldo de Almeida Ramos, 280, Centro, CEP 27700-000, Vassouras, RJ, Brazil
,
R. B. Reis
1   Laboratory of Biomorphology and Experimental Pathology, Center of Health Science, Universidade Severino Sombra - USS, Av. Expedicionário Osvaldo de Almeida Ramos, 280, Centro, CEP 27700-000, Vassouras, RJ, Brazil
,
C. R. Nardeli
1   Laboratory of Biomorphology and Experimental Pathology, Center of Health Science, Universidade Severino Sombra - USS, Av. Expedicionário Osvaldo de Almeida Ramos, 280, Centro, CEP 27700-000, Vassouras, RJ, Brazil
,
F. P. Abreu
2   Human Anatomy Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto - UFOP, Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, s/n, Bauxita, CEP 35400-000, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
,
F. S. Bezerra
2   Human Anatomy Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto - UFOP, Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, s/n, Bauxita, CEP 35400-000, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

01 September 2015

08 November 2016

Publication Date:
16 October 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction: Approximately a third of worldwide deaths are caused by ischemic or coronary heart disease, suggesting that greater attention is needed to study the coronary diameter and myocardial vasculature. Material and Methods: In this study, 39 human adult hearts were dissected. The masses of the hearts were measured according to the principle of Scherle and the external diameters of the right coronary artery, the left coronary artery, and the ascending part of the Aorta were measured in millimeters (mm), using a Mitutoyo digital caliper. In the statistical analysis, normal distribution of the variables was assessed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, external diameters were compared using the unpaired Student's t-test, and Pearson's correlation was applied to investigate the correlation of the diameters of the left coronary artery and right coronary artery with the Aorta. Significance was set at P <0.05, and the data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism v.5.00 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA). Results: The external diameters were as follows: left coronary artery, 5.55±0.16 mm; right coronary artery, 4.38±0.15 mm (P <0.0001); and Aorta, 22.85±0.80 mm. Thus, it was demonstrated that the external diameter of the left coronary artery is 22% larger than that of the right coronary artery, resulting in a greater blood supply via the left coronary artery and a greater passage of atherosclerotic factors. Conclusions: Despite the importance of the coronary arteries for the heart and the body as a whole, few studies correlated morphometric data and possible clinical implications related to coronary artery disease.

Keywords

aorta - heart - coronary artery