Posterior descending artery

In the coronary circulation, the posterior descending artery (PDA), also called the posterior interventricular artery (PIV, PIA, or PIVA), is an artery running in the posterior interventricular sulcus to the apex of the heart where it meets with the left anterior descending artery also known as the anterior interventricular artery. The PDA supplies the posterior third of the interventricular septum. The remaining anterior two-thirds is supplied by the left anterior descending artery, which is a branch of left coronary artery.

It is typically a branch of the right coronary artery (70%, known as right dominance). Alternately, the PDA can be a branch of the circumflex coronary artery (10%, known as left dominance) which itself is a branch of the left coronary artery. It can also be supplied by an anastomosis of the left and right coronary artery (20%, known as co-dominance).

Variants have been reported.

The anatomical position of the artery is not really posterior, but inferior. The terminology posterior is based on viewing the heart from the "Valentine" position, not by the heart's actual position in the body.

Additional images

References

External links

• Anatomy figure: 20:04-04 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Posterior view of the heart."
• Image
• Image at guidant.com

1. Coronary arteries
2. Coronary circulation
3. List of arteries of the human body
4. Circumflex branch of left coronary artery
5. Intercostal arteries
6. Right coronary artery
7. Thoracic aorta
8. Anatomy of the human heart
9. Common carotid artery
10. Maxillary artery
11. Posterior spinal artery
12. Left anterior descending artery
13. Middle cerebral artery
14. Tibialis posterior muscle
15. Left colic artery
16. Right gastroepiploic artery
17. Deep artery of arm
18. Femoral artery
19. Arterial tree
20. Internal capsule