Vessels
Coronary Arteries
The arteries are the main "roadways" or vessels that deliver oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Veins are the main vessels that carry de-oxygenated blood away from the body and back to the heart.
There are plenty of more veins and arteries, but for now we will cover the main ones you should be familiar with as an EKG technician.
Superior & Inferior Vena Cava
The vena cava are separated into the top (Superior) and bottom (Inferior) sections. The top part of your body sends de-oxygenated blood to the heart from the Superior Vena Cava. The lower part of your body sends de-oxygenated blood to the heart from the Inferior Vena Cava.
Right Coronary Artery
The right coronary artery sits on the right side of the heart and feeds (gives oxygen) to the right atrium and right ventricle. Additionally, it feeds the SA node (Sinoatrial) as well as the AV (Atrioventricular) nodes.
Aorta
The aorta is the biggest artery in the body. It sits at the top of the heart and has different branches that lead to different parts of the body. All blood comes out of the heart through the aorta. Additionally, the vessels that feed the heart, arise from the aorta.
Left Main, Circumflex, Left Anterior Descending
The Left Main coronary artery arises from the base of the Aorta and travels towards the left side of the heart. The Left Main branches as it descends into the Circumflex and Left Anterior Descending Arteries. The LAD (Left Anterior Descending) feeds the interventricular septum, the anterior, lateral, and apical (apex) of the left ventricle. It also feeds more than that, but for this discussion that's all we will cover. Because the LAD feeds so much of the heart, if it gets blocked in any way it can mean a death sentence for a patient. This artery is often called the widow maker.
The Circumflex is a branch of the Left Main Artery and wraps from the anterior side of the left side of the heart and moves towards the backside. It feeds the left atrium as well as some portions of the lateral wall of the left ventricle.
NOTES:
Arteries carry oxygen rich blood.
Veins carry oxygen poor/deprived blood.
The aorta is the biggest vessel in the body. It carries oxygen rich blood away from the heart to the rest of body.
Blood enters the heart through the vena cava (Superior: Top & Inferior: Bottom)
The left coronary artery feeds the left ventricle and left atrium through branches of itself. The LAD is the widow maker because it feeds the left ventricle.