Great cardiac vein | |
---|---|
Details | |
Drains to | Coronary sinus |
Identifiers | |
Latin | Vena cordis magna, vena cardiaca magna |
TA98 | A12.3.01.003 |
TA2 | 4159 |
FMA | 4707 |
Anatomical terminology |
The great cardiac vein (left coronary vein) is a vein of the heart. It begins at the apex of the heart and ascends along the anterior interventricular sulcus[1] before joining the oblique vein of the left atrium to form the coronary sinus[2] upon the posterior surface of the heart.
Anatomy
Course
The great cardiac vein ascends along the anterior interventricular sulcus[1] to the base of the ventricles. It then curves around the left margin of the heart to reach the posterior surface.[2]
Fate
Upon reaching the posterior surface of the heart,[3] the great cardiac vein merges with the oblique vein of the left atrium to form the coronary sinus.[2][3] At the junction of the great cardiac vein and the coronary sinus, there is typically a valve present. This is the Vieussens valve of the coronary sinus.[2]
Tributaries
The great cardiac vein receives tributaries from the left atrium and from both ventricles: one, the left marginal vein, is of considerable size, and ascends along the left margin of the heart.
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 642 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- 1 2 Morton, David A. (2018). The Big Picture: Gross Anatomy. K. Bo Foreman, Kurt H. Albertine (2nd ed.). New York. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-259-86264-9. OCLC 1044772257.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - 1 2 3 4 McAlpine, W. A. (2012). Heart and Coronary Arteries: An Anatomical Atlas for Clinical Diagnosis, Radiological Investigation, and Surgical Treatment. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9783642659836.
- 1 2 Wilson, Alexander; Bhutta, Beenish S. (2022), "Anatomy, Thorax, Coronary Sinus", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32491498, retrieved 2023-01-05
External links
- Anatomy photo:20:11-0101 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Heart: Cardiac veins"
- Anatomy figure: 20:03-05 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Anterior view of the heart."