Rediscovering the atrioventricular node artery: anatomical reappraisal of Bonapace’s branch

In the evolving landscape of cardiac electrophysiology, a precise understanding of the vascular anatomy of the cardiac conduction system is not a luxury but a necessity. As our armamentarium of interventions expands, from atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) ablation to conduction system pacing and device implantation, we increasingly encounter the clinical implications of anatomical variations. The study by Kawashima,1 published in this issue of Open Heart, is a timely and meticulous exploration of one such underappreciated coronary artery branch, historically known as Bonapace’s branch.2