Which organ do the coronary arteries primarily nourish?

• A. Lungs
• B. Brain
• C. Heart
• D. Liver

Answer: (C)

Coronary arteries nourish the heart muscle, supplying the myocardium with the oxygen and nutrients it needs to keep beating. They branch off the aorta and deliver blood directly to the tissue that powers each heartbeat, making this circulation essential for the heart’s continuous function. If this supply is impaired, the heart muscle can become ischemic, leading to chest pain or a heart attack. The lungs, brain, and liver rely on different arterial systems—the lungs receive blood via pulmonary and bronchial circulation, the brain through carotid/vertebral arteries, and the liver via the hepatic artery and portal system—so the coronary arteries are uniquely tasked with feeding the heart itself.