43 Volume 3 Number 2, April - June 2014 Author’s Affiliation: *Demonstrator, Department of Anatomy, Gian Sagar Medical College, Ram Nagar, Rajpura, Patiala 140601, **Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, BPS Government Medical College for Women, Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat 131305, Haryana, ***Assistant Professor, Dept. of Anatomy, Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Sector-32, Chandigarh, ****Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Gian Sagar Medical College, Ram Nagar, Rajpura, Patiala 140601, Punjab, India. Reprint’s Request: Prithpal Singh Matreja, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Ramnagar, Patiala 140601, Punjab, India. E-mail: drpsmatreja@yahoo.co.in ©Red Flower Publication Pvt.Ltd Indian Journal of Anatomy Volume 3 Number 2, April - June 2014 An Anatomic Study of Branching Pattern of Right Coronary Artery (RCA) Charanjeet Kaur*, Navtej Singh**, Jyotsna Singh***, Prithpal S. Matreja**** Original Article Abstract Introduction: Malformations of position of ostia and origin of coronary arteries leads to potentially fatal significance unless diagnosed and treated surgically, because the coronary artery, and the myocardium it supplies, is fed with pulmonary rather than systemic blood. The present study aims to establish morphometry and pattern of right coronary artery with a special emphasis on its branching pattern, anastomoses and area of distribution. M aterial and M ethods: The hearts of 25 adult human cadavers comprised the material for the study. The branching pattern of the Right Coronary A rtery along with any variation were observed and noted down. Drawing of each artery was made and each specimen was photographed. The data was collected, finalized, analyzed & compared with the available data. Results: The observations from present study show that there is lot of variation in number, site of origin, and area supplied by the RCA. In 10 specimens a third coronary artery was seen arising from anterior aortic sinus just in front of the proper right coronary artery, 21 cases (84%) the posterior interventricular artery was a continuation of right coronary artery. In 21 specimens single conus artery was found out of which in 15 specimen conus artery was seen arising from RCA. In 18 specimens single marginal artery was found. Conclusion: The number of variations seen in branching pattern of RCA it becomes very difficult to assign the normal pattern. Keywords: Coronary artery; Marginal artery; Conus artery; Variations; Branching pattern. Introduction Coronary arteries are the vasa vasorum of ascending aorta, right coronary artery arises from right coronary sinus (anterior aortic sinus) and left coronary artery arises from left posterior aortic sinus of ascending aorta.[1] Ostia of the coronary arteries are located in center of corresponding aortic sinuses. Malformations of position of ostia and origin of coronary arteries lead to high risk of sudden death.[2] Clinically, the anomalies are arbitrarily divided into benign and malignant, based on their potential to cause myocardial ischaemia. The three most common benign anomalies are separate origins of left anterior descending and circumflex in left sinus of valsalva; origin of circumflex from right sinus of Valsalva or from right coronary artery; and ectopic origin of right coronary artery from aorta, a high origin being particularly prone to accidental cross clamping or side clamping, or transection during aortotomy. The most common malignant anomaly is the ectopic origin of right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva.[3] The right coronary artery, which in nine- tenths of individuals supplies most of diaphragmatic surface of ventricular mass, emerges from right coronary aortic sinus in upper part of right anterior surface of aortic