Key result
Triangle of Brocq and Mouchet is closed in ~80% of hearts on cadaveric dissection.
Why the study?
The left coronary artery shows marked anatomical variability in its branching pattern, and the Triangle of Brocq and Mouchet is a key yet under-explored coronary landmark with clinical and radiological significance.
Observational (n=30)
No
This cadaveric study demonstrates substantial anatomical variability in left coronary artery branching (including 30% with quadrifurcation or pentafurcation) and a high prevalence (80%) of closed Triangles of Brocq and Mouchet, highlighting important landmarks to prevent iatrogenic injury during coronary interventions and cardiac surgery.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Cadaveric coronary and Triangle of Brocq and Mouchet patterns extend anatomical mapping; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
Background: The left coronary artery (LCA) shows marked anatomical variability in its branching pattern, which is crucial for interventional and surgical procedures.The Triangle of Brocq and Mouchet (TBM), formed by the left anterior descending artery (LAD), left circumflex artery (LCx), and great cardiac vein (GCV), is a key yet under-explored coronary landmark with clinical and radiological significance.Methods: Thirty human cadaveric hearts from routine dissections were studied to document LCA origin, branching patterns, and TBM morphology.The LCA was classified as bifurcating, trifurcating, quadrifurcating, or pentafurcating.The TBM was evaluated for its presence, completeness, shape, and contents.The positional relationship of the GCV with the LAD and LCx was also assessed.Results: TBM was present in all specimens, predominantly in a closed form (80%), followed by inferiorly (10%) and superiorly (10%) open types.The triangle commonly contained a median artery (36.7%), diagonal branch (26.7%), or both (6.7%); one specimen showed a GCV tributary.LCA branching patterns included bifurcation (50%), trifurcation (20%), quadrifurcation (20%), and pentafurcation (10%).The GCV was superficial to the LAD in 33.3% and deep in 66.7%, while superficial to the LCx in 60% and deep in 40% of cases.Conclusion: This study highlights notable variability in LCA branching and TBM configuration, with the closed triangle being most common.Awareness of these variations is essential during coronary interventions and bypass grafting to prevent iatrogenic injury and improve procedural accuracy.
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A 2026 study conducted an observational in Anatomical variations of the left coronary artery and Triangle of Brocq and Mouchet (n=30). Anatomical dissection of left coronary artery and Triangle of Brocq and Mouchet was evaluated on Prevalence of closed Triangle of Brocq and Mouchet (TBM) and Left Coronary Artery (LCA) bifurcation. Cadaveric heart dissection revealed the Triangle of Brocq and Mouchet was predominantly closed (80%), while left coronary artery branching showed bifurcation in 50% and trifurcation in 20%.
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