Coronary territory
Also calledvascular territory · myocardial territory · coronary distribution · culprit territory
Definition
The region of myocardium supplied by a given coronary artery. The leads that show ST elevation identify the affected region, and their pattern points to the likely culprit vessel. The standard groupings are: anterior (V1 to V4, the left anterior descending artery; anteroseptal changes are highly specific for it), lateral (I, aVL, V5 and V6, often the proximal left circumflex), inferior (II, III and aVF, the right coronary or the left circumflex, depending on which is the dominant vessel) and posterior (tall, broad R waves with ST depression in V1 to V3, or ST elevation in posterior leads V7 to V9). Right ventricular involvement is best shown by ST elevation in the right-sided lead V4R.
Sources
- Morris F, Brady WJ. ABC of clinical electrocardiography: acute myocardial infarction, part I. BMJ. 2002;324(7341):831-834. doi.org/10.1136/bmj.324.7341.831
- Wagner GS, Macfarlane P, Wellens H, et al. AHA/ACCF/HRS recommendations for the standardization and interpretation of the electrocardiogram: part VI: acute ischemia/infarction. Circulation. 2009;119(10):e262-e270. doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.191098
Last reviewed 2 October 2026. Every definition in the EKG Dictionary cites the guideline, consensus statement or original paper it comes from.