When the circumflex supplies the back side of the heart, including the septum, the circulation is described as what dominance?

When the circumflex supplies the back side of the heart, including the septum, the circulation is described as what dominance?

• A. Dominant left
• B. Dominant right
• C. Balanced
• D. Mixed

Answer: (A)

Dominance in coronary circulation is determined by which artery gives rise to the posterior descending artery that supplies the inferior wall and the posterior septum. If the circumflex artery, a branch of the left coronary system, provides the back side of the heart including the septum, that means the left coronary system is the dominant supplier. In left-dominant hearts, the posterior descending artery originates from the circumflex rather than the right coronary artery. Right-dominant hearts have the PDA coming from the right coronary artery, and balanced would imply significant contributions from both sides. So this scenario describes left dominance.

Dominance in coronary circulation is determined by which artery gives rise to the posterior descending artery that supplies the inferior wall and the posterior septum. If the circumflex artery, a branch of the left coronary system, provides the back side of the heart including the septum, that means the left coronary system is the dominant supplier. In left-dominant hearts, the posterior descending artery originates from the circumflex rather than the right coronary artery. Right-dominant hearts have the PDA coming from the right coronary artery, and balanced would imply significant contributions from both sides. So this scenario describes left dominance.