Timing and sequence of events in human coronary circulation development
Conte, G.
Bollettino della Societa Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 58(19): 1238-1243
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-8771 PMID: 7159516 Document Number: 188062
Development of the coronary arteries in 34 human embryos (stages IX-XXIII) was studied. In the 1st phase the subepicardial, right and left vascular networks develop; the myocardium is nourished by means of the blood flowing in the ventricular cavities. In the 2nd phase the right subepicardial vascular network is well developed and forms the primordium of the right coronary artery and communicates with the sinusoids of the left ventricle; this way, the oxygenated blood nourishes with right bulbo-ventricular myocardium. The left, less developed, subepicardial network develops and forms the primordium of the left coronary artery. In the 3rd phase manifold anlages of the trunk of the coronary arteries develop like buds from the endothelium of the arterial trunk (stage XVI). Only 2 among the several endothelial buds, right and left, respectively, hollow and connect (stage XVII) with the subepicardial vascular network, right and left, respectively.