Definition

Noun The coronary artery is one of the two arteries that branch from the aorta to supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle itself.

Usage

The term "coronary artery" is used in medical and anatomical contexts to refer to the specific blood vessels that nourish the heart. It is a singular noun; the plural is "coronary arteries."

Examples

• A blockage in a coronary artery can cause a heart attack.
• The surgeon performed a bypass on the patient's diseased coronary artery.
• The left main coronary artery divides into two major branches.

Advanced Usage

• Coronary artery disease (CAD): The most common type of heart disease, caused by the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries.
• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG): A surgical procedure to improve blood flow to the heart by creating a new path (a graft) around a blocked coronary artery.

Variants and Related Words

• Coronary artery (noun): The full and most common term.
• Coronary (noun, informal): Often used as a shorthand, as in "He has a coronary condition."
• Left coronary artery (LCA): The artery supplying blood to the left side of the heart.
• Right coronary artery (RCA): The artery supplying blood to the right side of the heart.

Synonyms

• Cardiac artery (less common)

Related Phrases

• Coronary circulation: The system of blood vessels that supply the heart muscle.
• Coronary occlusion: The complete blockage of a coronary artery.

Noun

1. the artery that branches from the aorta to supply blood to the heart