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Coronary Arteries

By , About.com Guide

Updated September 25, 2008

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Definition: Every muscle needs a blood supply, including the heart - and the coronary arteries are responsible for this. The coronary arteries are blood vessels that branch off the aorta -- the biggest artery in the body -- and supply blood to the heart muscle.

Coronary arteries are responsible for directly supplying the heart muscle with fresh blood and nutrients it needs to perform correctly.

Also Known As: Heart Vessels
Examples:
Untreated coronary artery disease can lead to a heart attack.

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