Pericardial sinus

There are two pericardial sinuses: transverse and oblique.

• The sinus, enclosed between the limbs of the inverted U of the venous mesocardium lies behind the left atrium and in between left and right pulmonary veins. This is known as the oblique sinus.
• The passage between the venous and arterial mesocardia—i.e., behind the aorta and pulmonary artery and anterior to the superior vena cava —is termed the transverse sinus.[1] Also, the sinus that forms in the pericardial cavity where the dorso-mesentary pericardium reside. Note: This sinus is clinically important because passing one end of clamp through the sinus, and the other end anterior to the aorta/pulmonary trunk will allow complete blockage of blood output. This is done during some heart surgeries.

Pericardial sinus
Posterior wall of the pericardial sac, showing the lines of reflection of the serous pericardium on the great vessels. (Transverse sinus labeled at center. Oblique sinus not labeled, but visible inferior to transverse sinus between the right and left pulmonary veins)
Identifiers
TA	A12.1.07.001
FMA	77132
Anatomical terminology

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 526 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

1. "transverse sinus" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary

External links

• Anatomy photo:20:04-0101 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Heart: Transverse and Oblique Pericardial Sinuses"
• thoraxlesson4 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (pericardialsinuses)