Diagonal branches of the LAD

Branch

One to three branches leaving the LAD at an angle to cross the anterolateral wall of the left ventricle, while the LAD trunk itself continues to the apex.

Traced from the start

  1. Left (posterior) aortic sinus and left main stem
  2. Left anterior descending (anterior interventricular) artery
  3. Diagonal branches of the LAD

Detail

Supplies
Anterolateral (high lateral) LV wall; with the LAD trunk, the anterior wall and apex
Papillary muscle
Anterolateral papillary muscle, shared with the obtuse marginals (dual supply)

When it goes wrong

LAD occlusion proximal to the first diagonal

Anterior STEMI extending to I and aVL with reciprocal depression in III; occlusion distal to D1 spares the high lateral leads

Practise this structure

1 question in the bank tagged Coronary Circulation.