New findings on the origin of the blood supply to the atrioventricular node. Clinical and surgical significance.

The anatomy of the heart's conduction system and of its blood supply have been research topics for many years. However, several proposals have never been demonstrated. In this paper, we describe 2 vascular conduits that have never before been objectively shown to supply the conduction system. Twenty human hearts from subjects aged between 15 and 65 years--with and without coronary disease--were dissected after anterograde and retrograde injection with latex butaclor E-650 by means of a technique developed by the authors. In 40% of these hearts, Kugel's artery was found to supply the atrioventricular node. The right descending superior artery supplied the atrioventricular node in 70% of the hearts dissected. These findings may be of major significance both in clinical cardiology and in cardiovascular surgery.