Summary
Systematic quantitative investigations were performed in the coronary arteries of 102 hearts of 36 mammal species with an overall more than tenthousandfold difference of their heart weight. After postmortem coronary angiography with a filling pressure of 100 mm Hg x-rays were taken, and the widest diameters of the coronary artery stems were determined. We found a nearly linear correlation between diameter of a standardized coronary artery and virtual diameter of heart, but the increase in diameter of coronary arteries exceeded somewhat that of the diameter of heart especially for heart weights surmounting 100 g. Perhaps relative enlargement of coronary arteries in the bigger hearts contributes to the prevention of large increase of blood flow velocity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahmed SH, Rakhawy MT, Abdalla A, Assaad EI (1978) The comparative anatomy of the blood supply of cardiac ventricles in the albino rat and guinea-pig. J Anat 126:51–57
Bishop MB, Free SL, Davies JNP, Albert RP (1970) The coronary arterial pattern of deer in New York State with special reference to the third (posterior) coronary artery. Am Heart J 80:785–790
Gościcka D (1977) Die Kranzadern und die Leistungsfähigkeit des Herzens von domestizierten sowie wilden Säugetieren und Vögeln. Anat Anz 142:55–61
Habermehl KH (1966) Morphologie und Funktion der Herzeigengefäße. Zbl Veterinärmedizin (A) 13:111–138
Hadžiselimović H, Šećerov D, Gmaz-Nikulin E (1974) Comparative anatomical investigations on coronary arteries in wild and domestic animals. Acta anat 90:16–35
Hoffmann V (1975) Die Blutgefäßversorgung des Pferdeherzens, zugleich auch eine vergleichende Betrachtung der Topographie der herzeigenen Blutgefäße der Haussäuger (Fleischfresser, Schwein und Wiederkäuer). Anat Anz 137:79–109
Hort W, Lichti H, Kalbfleisch H, Köhler F, Frenzel H, Milzner-Schwarz U (1982) The size of human coronary arteries depending on the physiological and pathological growth of the heart, the age, the size of the supplying areas and the degree of coronary sclerosis. A postmortem study. Virchows Arch Abt A 397:37–59
Hutchins GM, Bulkley BH, Miner MM, Boitnott JK (1977) Correlation of age and heart weight with tortuosity and caliber of normal human coronary arteries. Am Heart J 94:196–202
McNamara JJ, Fergusson DJG, Yamase H, Suehiro G, Soeter JR (1973) Significant variations in distribution of the anterior descending coronary artery in primates. J Thorax Cardiovasc. Surg 65:639–642
Rawlings CA (1977) Coronary Arterial Anatomy of the Small Pony. Am J Vet Res 38:1031–1035
Sostman HD, Kelly MJ, Langou RA (1977) Perfusion of the canine interventricular septum: Significance of right coronary artery supply. Am Heart J 94:611–617
Truex RC, Nolan FG, Truex RC Jr, Schneider HP, Perlmutter HI (1961) Anatomy and pathology of the whale heart with special reference to the coronary circulation. Anatom Rec 141:325–354
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported by a research grant of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 282/8
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thüroff, J.W., Hort, W. & Lichti, H. Diameter of coronary arteries in 36 species of mammalian from mouse to giraffe. Basic Res Cardiol 79, 199–206 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01908306
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01908306