Updated June 10, 2015.

Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.

Definition:

The coronary arteries are the blood vessels that run along the surface of the heart. They supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. There are two major coronary arteries: the right coronary artery and the left coronary artery.

The right coronary artery and its branches supply the right atrium and right ventricle. The left coronary artery and its branches supply the left atrium and left ventricle.

The coronary arteries are often prone to atherosclerosis, which can produce both chronic and acute blockages in the arteries, leading to angina and infarction (heart attack) of the heart muscle.