Which artery branches from the left coronary artery to supply the anterior surface of the heart?

• A. Anterior descending artery
• B. Circumflex artery
• C. Right coronary artery
• D. Posterior descending artery

Answer: (A)

The artery that branches from the left coronary artery to supply the anterior surface of the heart is the left anterior descending artery (anterior descending artery). It runs down the anterior interventricular sulcus and provides the bulk of the blood supply to the anterior wall of the left ventricle and the interventricular septum.

The other major left coronary branch is the circumflex, which mainly supplies the lateral and posterior aspects of the heart. The right coronary artery supplies the right heart and, via the posterior descending artery in many hearts, the inferior/posterior surfaces. The posterior descending artery itself can originate from either the right coronary artery or the left coronary artery depending on coronary dominance, but it does not primarily supply the anterior surface.