US Medical Term · anatomy
Coronary Arteries
Arterias coronarias
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Coronary Arteries |
| Spanish (Español) | Arterias coronarias |
| Chinese (中文) | 冠狀動脈 |
| Korean (한국어) | 관상동맥 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Động mạch vành |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Coronary na mga arterya |
| Portuguese (Português) | Artérias coronárias |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | หลอดเลือดแดงหัวใจ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 冠状動脈 |
What it means
The coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle itself with oxygen and nutrients. The heart cannot use blood that is simply passing through its chambers — it needs its own dedicated supply. Two main coronary arteries — the left and the right — branch off the aorta just above the aortic valve and wrap around the heart. When fatty deposits called plaque build up inside a coronary artery and narrow it, the heart muscle may not get enough blood, causing chest pain called angina. If a plaque ruptures and completely blocks the artery, the result is a heart attack. Stents or bypass surgery are common treatments to restore blood flow.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
The cardiologist said one of my coronary arteries is seventy percent blocked and I may need a stent.
El cardiólogo dijo que una de mis arterias coronarias está obstruida en un setenta por ciento y puede que necesite un stent.
I had a heart attack because a coronary artery was completely blocked.
Tuve un infarto porque una arteria coronaria estaba completamente obstruida.
The angiogram will show exactly which coronary arteries are narrowed and how badly.
La angiografía mostrará exactamente qué arterias coronarias están estrechadas y en qué medida.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026