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

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Which artery is responsible for supplying the posterior descending artery in 15% of the population?

Left circumflex artery

The left circumflex artery (LCX) is responsible for supplying the posterior descending artery (PDA) in about 15% of the population, in a phenomenon known as "left dominant" coronary circulation. In the majority of individuals, the PDA is supplied by the right coronary artery (RCA), hence classifying the common type as "right dominant." However, in individuals with left dominant systems, the LCX supplies both the lateral wall of the left ventricle and the PDA, extending its reach.

Understanding this distribution is significant in the context of coronary artery anomalies, as it influences both clinical management and surgical approaches during procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting. The other arteries listed do play important roles in coronary circulation, but they do not typically supply the PDA in this particular percentage of the population, making the left circumflex artery the correct choice here.

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Right coronary artery

Left anterior descending artery

Anterior interventricular artery

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