A myocardial infarction affects which of the following blood vessels of the heart?
A.
Pulmonary
B.
Aorta
C.
Vena cava
D.
Coronary
The correct answer is:
D. Coronary
Explanation: A myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack) occurs when there is a blockage in one of the coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle (myocardium). When a coronary artery becomes blocked, typically due to a blood clot forming on a plaque of fatty deposits, the part of the heart muscle supplied by that artery is deprived of oxygen. This can lead to damage or death of the heart tissue, which is what happens during a myocardial infarction.
- A. Pulmonary: The pulmonary arteries carry blood from the heart to the lungs, not to the heart muscle.
- B. Aorta: The aorta is the main artery that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body, but it is not directly involved in supplying blood to the heart muscle itself.
- C. Vena cava: The vena cava is a large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart, but it is not involved in the blood supply to the heart muscle.