Study of Myocardial Bridges in the Hearts of the Human Cadavers

Abstract

Background: Myocardial bridging is recognized as an anatomical variation of the human coronary circulation in which an epicardial artery lies in the myocardium for part of its course. Thus, the vessel is #x2018;bridged#x2019; by myocardium. The possible clinical implications of myocardial bridging may vary from protection against atherosclerosis to systolic vessel compression and resultant myocardial ischemia. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out on 50 normal formalin fixed human heart specimens. Dissection was performed according to standard techniques. Percentage and distribution of myocardial bridges and its relationship with coronary artery dominance pattern of the heart were noted and documented. Results: Myocardial bridges were found in 35 (70%) of the hearts with a total of 46 bridges. Bridges were most often found over the anterior interventricular artery (28 MB), on its middle third (20 MB). Bridges were also found over the diagonal branch (4 MB) and over the left marginal branch (3 MB) branch of the left coronary artery. Out of 11MB found over the right coronary artery, 5 MB was found over the first segment and 6 MB over the posterior interventricular branch of the right coronary artery. Twenty seven (77.1%) of the hearts with bridges were right dominant. Six hearts (17.1%) were left dominant. Conclusion: This study will serve to understand the presence and distribution of the myocardial bridges in the heart and its relation with dominance of heart. The possibility of myocardial bridges should be borne in mind in individuals with ischemia but no evidence of coronary atherosclerosis.