[Histotopographic and morphometric studies of the intramural coronary arteries in the trabecula septomarginalis of swine and pigmy goats].

Up to six arteries traverse from the interventricular septum to the M. papillaris magnus in the trabecula septomarginalis (moderator band) of swine and pygmy goat. Musculo-elastic intimal thickenings, many of them quite extensive, are recordable from along the entire length of all these intramural coronary arteries which are between 50 microns and 300 microns in diameter. The conclusion may be drawn from the results of morphometric analysis that coronary arteries undergo enlargement in response to increased intimal thickening and that such enlargement does not lead to narrowing of the lumen. Peculiarities in wall structure of the arteries in the trabecula septomarginalis are interpreted as adaptive processes of the vascular wall to the extraordinary stress on those vessels.