CVS Practice Test 2025 - Free CVS Practice Questions and Study Guide

The posterior descending artery (PDA) typically arises from the right coronary artery (RCA) in most individuals, especially those with a right dominant coronary system. The PDA runs along the posterior interventricular sulcus on the diaphragmatic surface of the heart, supplying blood to parts of the ventricles and the interventricular septum.

In contrast, while the left anterior descending artery, left circumflex artery, and marginal artery have important roles in supplying other areas of the heart, they do not terminate as the PDA. The left anterior descending artery primarily supplies the anterior portion of the heart, the left circumflex artery supplies the lateral and posterior aspects of the left atrium and part of the left ventricle, and the marginal artery is an offshoot that supplies the area along the margin of the heart. Thus, the role of the right coronary artery in giving rise to the PDA is vital for understanding the coronary circulation and its anatomical relationships.