A blockage of the left anterior descending coronary artery causes infarction of which part of the left ventricle?

• A. Lateral wall
• B. Anterior wall
• C. Septal
• D. Inferior wall

Answer: (B)

The left anterior descending artery supplies the anterior wall of the left ventricle (and the anterior portion of the interventricular septum, often including the apex). When this artery is blocked, blood flow to that anterior LV territory is lost, leading to infarction there. The lateral wall is mainly supplied by the left circumflex, and the inferior wall by the right coronary artery in most people, so those regions are not the primary sites for an LAD occlusion. The septum can be involved because the LAD also perfuses the anterior septum, but the classic infarct location for LAD blockage described in this question is the anterior wall of the left ventricle.