Right coronary artery branches: Types, anatomy, and more Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe What are the branches of the right coronary artery Medically reviewed by Dr. Payal Kohli, M.D., FACC — By Mathieu Rees on May 29, 2022The primary function of the right coronary artery is to supply blood to part of the heart. In order to adequately supply the heart with blood, the right coronary artery branches off into smaller arteries. Each has a different role to play. Like any other organ, the heart needs to extract oxygen and nutrients from the blood to function properly. Therefore, the right coronary artery plays an important role in keeping the heart working by supplying it with blood. This article will explain how the right coronary artery works and provide information about its main branches. It will also discuss the health conditions that might affect the right coronary artery. What is the right coronary artery Share on PinterestMediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty ImagesThe different organs within a person’s body need a steady supply of nutrients and oxygen to carry out their various functions. This is also true of the heart, whose job is to pump blood around the body. The coronary arteries allow the heart to pump blood to itself. There is one right and two left coronary arteries, which supply blood to different parts of the heart. The right coronary artery originates from the aorta. As the name suggests, the right coronary artery supplies the right side of the heart. However, as the right coronary artery splits into different, smaller arteries, it also pumps blood toward the back wall of the left side of the heart. Right coronary artery branchesShare on PinterestA diagram of the heart showing the branches of the right coronary artery. Infographic by Jason Hoffman. The right coronary artery splits into several major branches, allowing the blood to reach different parts of the heart. This section outlines the major branches of the right coronary artery. Conus artery The conus artery is one of the initial major branches of the right coronary artery. It supplies blood to a part of the heart known as the conus or the infundibulum of the right ventricle. This artery supplies blood to the right ventricle and to the arteries that travel toward the lungs. Sinoatrial nodal branch The sinoatrial nodal branch is also an initial major branch of the right coronary artery. It supplies blood to the sinoatrial node. The sinoatrial node is located in the heart’s right atrium and contains pacemaker cells that produce an electrical impulse. This impulse causes the heart to contract and pump blood at specific rhythms, which is called the heartbeat. Right acute marginal branch This is an important middle branch of the right coronary artery, as it supplies the heart’s right ventricle with blood. The primary function of the right ventricle is to pump blood to the lungs to get oxygenated. Posterior interventricular branch The posterior interventricular branch is also known as the posterior descending artery. This is a lower branch of the right coronary artery. It can supply blood to the interventricular septum, which separates the right and left sides of the heart. Posterolateral branches The posterolateral branch is a lower branch of the right coronary artery. It can supply blood to various locations toward the left of the heart. There is a lot of variation in the posterior interventricular and posterolateral branches. In around 70% of people, these branches originate solely from the right coronary artery, which scientists call right-dominant coronary circulation. When these branches originate solely from the left coronary artery, it is left-dominant coronary circulation. When they originate from both, experts call it codominant or balanced. Health conditions According to 2021 research, several serious health conditions can develop if there is an issue with the right coronary artery. Heart disease If too much plaque builds up within the right coronary artery, the blood may not receive enough nutrients and oxygen to function properly. This could lead to health issues such as:anginaheart attacksudden cardiac death Here, learn about whether it is possible to unclog plaque from the arteries. Coronary artery fistulas People can have coronary artery fistulas in their right coronary artery. Scientists define coronary artery fistulas as atypical connections between coronary arteries and other parts of the circulatory system. These include heart chambers and arterial branches. Coronary artery fistulas can occur in any coronary artery. Right coronary artery fistulas make up around 50–55% of coronary artery fistulas. Left anterior descending artery fistulas comprise around 35–40% of all cases. Most coronary artery fistulas do not cause any symptoms or complications. However, some coronary artery fistulas can lead to serious conditions, including heart attacks. Coronary artery aneurysm A coronary artery aneurysm is a rare condition where the coronary artery widens due to weakness in the arterial wall. It most commonly occurs in the right coronary artery and typically stems from atherosclerosis, which is the hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to plaque buildup. Most aneurysms are harmless and do not cause symptoms. However, in severe cases, aneurysms can rupture the artery wall, causing life threatening internal bleeding. Coronary artery dissection Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an uncommon condition in which the inner layer of the artery wall tears. The right coronary artery has three layers:innermiddleouter When the inner layer tears, it allows blood to enter the inner chamber of the heart. The trapped blood can cause a blockage and extend the tear, which can lead to a heart attack due to blood loss. SCAD typically occurs suddenly. Symptoms are similar to those of a heart attack and include:chest painshoulder painshortness of breathdizziness Summary The right coronary artery is a crucial component of the circulatory system. It helps the heart receive oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood, which it pumps to itself via several branches. Branches include the conus artery and the sinoatrial nodal branch, which supplies blood to the part of the heart that produces the heartbeat. Some conditions affecting the right coronary artery can be life threatening. However, abnormalities in the arteries are often benign. Last medically reviewed on May 29, 2022Heart DiseaseCardiovascular / Cardiologyheartvalvedisorders 6 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Beecham, R., et al. (2022). Coronary artery anomalies.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556060/Chaudhry, R., et al. (2021). Anatomy, thorax, heart arteries.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470522/Rao, S. S., et al. (2021). Coronary artery fistula.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559191/Saxton, A., et al. (2021). Anatomy, thorax, heart right coronary arteries.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537357/Sherif, S. A., et al. (2017). Coronary artery aneurysms: A review of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2017.00024/fullYun, G., et al. (2018). Coronary artery fistulas: Pathophysiology, imaging findings, and management. https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/full/10.1148/rg.2018170158FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Dr. Payal Kohli, M.D., FACC — By Mathieu Rees on May 29, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageWhy sleep is good for your arteries A study of mice has uncovered an anti-inflammatory mechanism, involving a brain hormone through which good sleep can slow plaque buildup in arteries.READ MOREPeripheral artery disease: Symptoms, causes, and moreMedically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI Peripheral artery disease (PAD) narrows blood vessels outside the brain and heart. 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