Coronary arteries
1. The left anterior descending artery is the primary source of blood for the anterior wall of
the heart.
The circumflex artery
... [Show More] supplies the lateral wall.
The internal mammary artery supplies the mammary.
The right coronary artery supplies the right ventricle and the inferior wall of the heart.
2. Most of the blood flow to coronary arteries is supplied during diastole.
3. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. (accounts for over
50% of all deaths)
4. Atherosclerosis, or plaque formation, is the leading cause of Coronary artery disease
(CAD).
5. Myocardial infarction is commonly a result of CAD.
6. Enhance myocardial oxygenation is the first priority of care for a client exhibiting S&S of
coronary artery disease.
Enhance myocardial oxygenation is always the first priority when a client exhibits S&S of
cardiac compromise.
Prolonged occlusion of the right coronary artery produces an infarction in which of he
following areas of the heart?
Inferior
The right coronary artery supplies the right ventricle, or the inferior portion of the heart.
Therefore, prolonged occlusion could produce an infarction in that area. The right coronary
artery doesn't supply the anterior portion ( left ventricle ), lateral portion ( some of the left
ventricle and the left atrium ), or the apical portion ( left ventricle ) of the heart.
Atherosclerosis
1. Arteries supply the coronary arteries with oxygen and other nutrients. Atherosclerosis is a
direct result of plaque formation in the artery. Hardened vessels cannot dilate properly and,
therefore, constrict blood flow.
Myocardial infarction (MI)
1. The most common symptom of an MI is chest pain, resulting from deprivation of oxygen to
the heart. Dyspnea is the second most common symptom, related to an increase in the
metabolic needs of the body during an MI.
2. Which condition is most commonly responsible for myocardial infarction (MI)?
Coronary artery thrombosis
Coronary artery thrombosis causes an occlusion of the artery, leading to myocardial death.
3. The FIRST intervention for a client experiencing MI?
Administer oxygen
Rationals: the myocardium is deprived of oxygen during an infarction, so additional oxygen is
administered to assist in oxygenation and prevent further damage. Morphine and sublingual
nitroglycerin are also used to treat MI, but they are more commonly administered after the
oxygen. An ECG is the most common diagnostic tool used to evaluate MI. [Show Less]