Small arteries supplying the trabeculae carneae cordis.

The arterial supply to the trabeculae carneae cordis in 13 randomly collected hearts was studied in detail by means of stereoroentgenograms of radiopaque-injected coronary arteries. Certain anatomic peculiarities of the small arterial vessels that supply the trabecular carneae cordis are described. The concept that these small blood vessels may play a role in providing collateral circulation to the subendocardial myocardium is presented. Also, the possible contribution of these small trabecular arteries to the production of angina pectoris clinically in patients in whom angiocardiography reveals normal main coronary arteries is suggested.