What are the coronary arteries in echocardiography?

In echocardiography, coronary arteries are the main vessels that supply blood to the heart. These are three major arteries: the left main coronary artery (LMCA), the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and the circumflex artery (CX). The LMCA originates from the aorta and splits at its bifurcation into two branches, namely LAD and CX.

The LAD is also known as "the widow-maker" due to its narrow anatomy. It supplies oxygenated blood to part of the front of heart muscle including septal walls and anterior walls of both ventricles. On echocardiography, this vessel is visualized on a transverse plane like a thin dividing line between ventricular chambers in parasternal long axis view or in apical views with certain colors depending on velocity of flow within it; blue/green is normal flow while red indicates stenosis which could be indicative of coronary artery disease if seen acutely with chest pain suggestive symptoms too.

The other branch of LMCA - CX - runs around the circumference or obliquely towards right atrial appendage supplying posterior surface lateral wall & inferior wall portions along with parts of apex region laterally & superiorly. Its visualization may vary depending on imaging equipment used but mostly it appears not so clearly compared to LAD so special technique like harmonic imaging can be employed for better clarity as well as identification in some cases where acute changes occur in stenotic condition specially when assessed for further management options such as stenting by interventional cardiologists afterwards.