AEMCA Practice Exam

The left coronary artery branches into which two arteries?

1. Right coronary and circumflex

2. Circumflex and left anterior descending

3. Left anterior descending and right coronary

4. Aorta and pulmonary artery

The correct answer is: Circumflex and left anterior descending

The left coronary artery branches into the circumflex artery and the left anterior descending artery, making this answer accurate. The left coronary artery is one of the two main coronary arteries responsible for supplying blood to the heart muscle. The circumflex artery travels around the left side of the heart and supplies blood to the lateral and posterior portions of the left ventricle, while the left anterior descending artery runs down the front of the heart and supplies blood to the front and bottom of the left ventricle as well as the interventricular septum. Together, these branches are critical in supplying the heart with oxygenated blood and are vital for its proper function. In contrast, the other options provided contain names of arteries that do not branch from the left coronary artery. For example, the right coronary artery is a branch of the aorta, not the left coronary artery, and the aorta and pulmonary artery are major vessels that serve different functions within the heart and circulatory system. Therefore, the chosen option effectively illustrates the anatomical branching of the left coronary artery.