atrioventricular nodal branch
{{Infobox artery
| Name = Atrioventricular nodal branch
| Latin = ramus nodi atrioventricularis
| Image = Gray492.png
| Caption = Sternocostal surface of heart.
| Image2 = Cardiac vessels.png
| Caption2 = ARTERIES:
RCA = right coronary
AB = atrial branches
SANB = sinuatrial nodal
RMA = right marginal
LCA = left coronary
CB = circumflex branch
LAD/AIB = anterior interventricular
LMA = left marginal
PIA/PDA = posterior descending
AVN = atrioventricular nodal
VEINS:
SCV = small cardiac
ACV = anterior cardiac
AIV/GCV = great cardiac
MCV = middle cardiac
CS = coronary sinus
| BranchFrom =
| BranchTo =
| Vein =
| Supplies =
}}
The atrioventricular nodal branch is a coronary artery that supplies arterial blood to the atrioventricular node, which is responsible for initiating muscular contraction of the ventricles. The AV nodal branch is most often a branch of the right coronary artery.
Structure
= Origin =
The atrioventricular nodal branch sees significant variation in origin:
- proximal posterolateral branch from the right coronary artery in around 77%.{{Cite journal|last1=Kawashima|first1=Tomokazu|last2=Sato|first2=Fumi|date=2018-10-15|title=Clarifying the anatomy of the atrioventricular node artery|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167527318323040|journal=International Journal of Cardiology|language=en|volume=269|pages=158–164|doi=10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.07.022|pmid=30001947|s2cid=51618750 |issn=0167-5273|url-access=subscription}}
- distal posterolateral branch from the right coronary artery in around 2%.{{Cite journal|last1=Kawashima|first1=Tomokazu|last2=Sato|first2=Fumi|date=2018-10-15|title=Clarifying the anatomy of the atrioventricular node artery|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167527318323040|journal=International Journal of Cardiology|language=en|volume=269|pages=158–164|doi=10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.07.022|pmid=30001947|s2cid=51618750 |issn=0167-5273|url-access=subscription}}
- distal right coronary artery in around 10%.
- right posterior interventricular artery in around 7%.
- distal circumflex branch of left coronary artery in around 4%.
The right coronary artery supplies the atrioventricular node in around 90% of people.{{Cite journal|last=Mahadevan|first=Vishy|date=2012-01-01|title=Anatomy of the heart|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0263931911002262|journal=Surgery (Oxford)|series=Cardiothoracic I|language=en|volume=30|issue=1|pages=5–8|doi=10.1016/j.mpsur.2011.10.011|issn=0263-9319|url-access=subscription}}
In approximately 2% of people, the vascular supply to the atrioventricular node arises from both the right coronary artery and the left circumflex branch.Sow ML, Ndoye JM, Lo EA. The artery of the atrioventricular node: an anatomic study based on 38 injection-dissections. Surg Radiol Anat 1996;18:183–187
Function
The atrioventricular nodal branch supplies the atrioventricular node, allowing for excitation of the ventricles.