Coronary Circulation and Myocardial Ischemia

The coronary circulation is central to sustaining myocardial viability. Unlike the cir­ culations of most other organs, if the coronary circulation becomes insufficient to sustain myocardial contractile function, overall quality of life rapidly declines and life can abruptly end. In partnership with the cerebral circulation, the coronary circula­ tion plays a central role in sustaining life. However, unlike the cerebral circulation, whose function is self-sufficient to define life, the coronary