Final answer:
Blood is supplied to the heart muscle by the coronary arteries, which branch from the aorta and are essential for supplying the heart with oxygenated blood. They include the right and left coronary arteries, serving the respective sides of the heart. The correct answer is B. Coronary arteries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The blood is supplied to the heart muscle by the coronary arteries. These arteries emerge from the first part of the aorta after it arises from the left ventricle. They are crucial because they provide the heart muscle (myocardium) with oxygen-rich blood which is essential for the heart's continuous functioning. There are two main coronary arteries; the right coronary artery, which supplies the right side of the heart, and the left coronary artery, which supplies the left side. The coronary arteries are particularly susceptible to atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by the buildup of fatty plaques, which can lead to angina or myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack).
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is B. Coronary arteries.
Order of Blood Flow from the Heart to the Body and Back Again:
- Aorta
- Arteries
- Capillaries
- Venules
- Veins