Coronary sinus

The coronary sinus is a collection of veins joined together to form a large vessel that collects blood from the heart muscle (myocardium). It delivers less-oxygenated blood to the right atrium, as do the superior and inferior venae cavae. It is present in all mammals, including humans.

Coronary sinus
Back (posterior) side of the heart, with coronary sinus (blue) labeled
Interior of heart, viewed anteriorly (opening of coronary sinus is labeled)
Details
PrecursorSinus venosus
SourceGreat cardiac vein
Drains toRight atrium
Identifiers
LatinSinus coronarius
MeSHD054326
TAA12.3.01.002
FMA4706
Anatomical terminology

The name comes from the Latin corona, meaning crown, since this vessel forms a partial circle around the heart. The coronary sinus drains into the right atrium, at the coronary sinus orifice, an opening between the inferior vena cava and the right atrioventricular orifice or tricuspid valve. It returns blood from the heart muscle, and is protected by a semicircular fold of the lining membrane of the auricle, the valve of coronary sinus (or valve of Thebesius). The sinus, before entering the atrium, is considerably dilated - nearly to the size of the end of the little finger. Its wall is partly muscular, and at its junction with the great cardiac vein is somewhat constricted and furnished with a valve, known as the valve of Vieussens consisting of two unequal segments.

Structure

The coronary sinus starts at the junction of the great cardiac vein and the oblique vein of the left atrium. The end of the great cardiac vein and the coronary sinus is marked by the Vieussens valve.[1]

The coronary sinus runs transversely in the left atrioventricular groove on the posterior side of the heart. It is the distal portion of the great cardiac vein feeding into the right atrium.

The valve of the coronary sinus is on the posterior, inferior surface of the heart, medial to the inferior vena cava opening, just superior to the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve. The coronary sinus valve is also known as the Thebesian valve.

Function

The coronary sinus receives blood mainly from the small, middle, great and oblique cardiac veins. It also receives blood from the left marginal vein and the left posterior ventricular vein. It drains into the right atrium.

The anterior cardiac veins do not drain into the coronary sinus but drain directly into the right atrium. Some small veins known as Thebesian veins drain directly into any of the four chambers of the heart.

Additional images
  • Diagram showing completion of development of the parietal veins.
  • Posterior view of coronary circulation
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See also
This article uses anatomical terminology.

References
  1. 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.
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