Name the three main coronary arteries.

• A. Right coronary artery, posterior descending artery, and left marginal artery
• B. Right coronary artery, left anterior descending (LAD) artery, and circumflex artery
• C. Aorta, pulmonary artery, and superior mesenteric artery
• D. Renal arteries, hepatic artery, and splenic artery

Answer: (B)

The main coronary arteries are the right coronary artery, the left anterior descending artery, and the circumflex artery. The left coronary artery quickly divides into the LAD and the circumflex, and together with the RCA they supply the heart muscle. The posterior descending artery is typically a branch of the RCA (or sometimes the circumflex), so it isn’t counted as one of the primary trunks. The other vessels listed (aorta, pulmonary artery, and the renal/hepatic/splenic arteries) are not coronary arteries.