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%. distal posterolateral branch from the right coronary artery in around 2%. 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.
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.
See also Coronary circulation
References