Which arteries supply blood to the heart?

The coronary arteries are responsible for supplying blood to the heart muscle itself. They branch off from the aorta and encircle the heart, ensuring that the heart tissue receives the oxygen and nutrients necessary for proper function. This direct blood supply is crucial because the heart, like any other organ, requires a continuous flow of oxygenated blood to sustain its activities, particularly given its role in pumping blood throughout the body.

The pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation, but they do not supply blood to the heart muscle itself. The subclavian arteries primarily supply blood to the upper limbs and parts of the thorax, while the renal arteries supply blood to the kidneys. Hence, although all these arteries are important for circulation, only the coronary arteries are specifically dedicated to the perfusion of the heart muscle.