Various interventional pharmacologic and mechanical modes of therapy for the treatment of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease have attracted a lot of attention in the last 15 years. Many procedures and equipment have been utilized or are being studied for future use (dilating balloons, perfusion catheters, thermal probes and balloons, lasers, atherectomy devices, stents, intravascular ultrasound). Many of these procedures and technologies necessitate knowledge of the histologic and pathologic characteristics of coronary arteries, as well as disorders that affect them. This article examines a few aspects of anatomy, histology, and pathology that are pertinent to the utilization of new interventional procedures. The anatomic elements of the epicardial coronary artery system, coronary arterial distribution, myocardial supply, and histologic properties of the normal coronary artery will be covered in Part I of this review.

More information here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1617826/