Atherosclerotic obstruction is most likely to occur in which artery?

Atherosclerotic obstruction is most likely to occur in which artery?

• A. LAD
• B. LCX
• C. RCA
• D. PDA

Answer: (A)

This item tests which coronary artery is most commonly affected by atherosclerotic obstruction. The left anterior descending artery is the most frequent site because it supplies the largest territory of the left ventricle, including the anterior wall and much of the septum. Proximal segments of the LAD are exposed to high flow and turbulent hemodynamics, and atherogenesis tends to cluster at sites of bifurcation and high shear stress. When a plaque narrows the LAD, a large portion of the myocardium loses blood supply, making it the most common and clinically significant site of obstruction. Other coronaries can be involved, but their involvement is less frequent than that of the LAD.

This item tests which coronary artery is most commonly affected by atherosclerotic obstruction. The left anterior descending artery is the most frequent site because it supplies the largest territory of the left ventricle, including the anterior wall and much of the septum. Proximal segments of the LAD are exposed to high flow and turbulent hemodynamics, and atherogenesis tends to cluster at sites of bifurcation and high shear stress. When a plaque narrows the LAD, a large portion of the myocardium loses blood supply, making it the most common and clinically significant site of obstruction. Other coronaries can be involved, but their involvement is less frequent than that of the LAD.