The coronary sinus (from Latin corona 'crown'[citation needed]) is the largest vein of the heart.[1][2] It drains over half of the deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle into the right atrium. It begins on the backside of the heart, in between the left atrium, and left ventricle; it begins at the junction of the great cardiac vein, and oblique vein of the left atrium. It receives multiple tributaries. It passes across the backside of the heart along a groove between left atrium and left ventricle, then drains into the right atrium at the orifice of the coronary sinus (which is usually guarded by the valve of coronary sinus).

Coronary sinus
Posterior view of coronary circulation
Details
PrecursorSinus venosus
Drains fromGreat, middle, small cardiac vein, posterior vein of the left ventricle, oblique vein of the left atrium
Drains toRight atrium
Identifiers
Latinsinus coronarius
MeSHD054326
TA98A12.3.01.002
TA24158
FMA4706
Anatomical terminology

Structure

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Origin

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The coronary sinus arises upon the posterior aspect of the heart between the left atrium, and left ventricle.[1] The coronary sinus commences at the union of the great cardiac vein, and the oblique vein of the left atrium.[1][3][4] The origin of the coronary sinus is marked by the Vieussens valve of the coronary sinus which is situated at the endpoint of the great cardiac vein.[1]

Course

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The coronary sinus runs transversely in the left atrioventricular groove (coronary sulcus) on the posterior aspect of the heart.[5] The sinus, before entering the right atrium, is considerably dilated - nearly to the size of the end of the little finger.[citation needed]

Fate

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The coronary sinus drains through the posterior wall of right atrium at the orifice of the coronary sinus.[6][1] This orifice is located at the posteroinferior aspect of the right atrium, just medial[1] and to the left of the orifice of inferior vena cava,[6] and between the inferior vena cava and the right atrioventricular orifice/tricuspid valve.[citation needed] The orifice is usually guarded by the valve of coronary sinus (a thin, crescent-shaped valve located on the anteroinferior part of the opening into the right atrium).[3]

Tributaries

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The coronary sinus receives blood mainly from the small, middle, great,[2] and oblique cardiac veins. It also receives blood from the left marginal vein and the left posterior ventricular vein.[citation needed]

All veins that empty into the coronary sinus except for the oblique vein of the left atrium have valves at their junction with the coronary sinus.[1]

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.[citation needed]

Microanatomy

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The wall of the coronary sinus is partly muscular.[citation needed]

Function

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The coronary sinus is responsible for venous return of about 55% of the cardiac blood supply.[1]

Clinical significance

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Electrodes can be inserted into and through the coronary sinus to study the electrophysiology of the heart. This includes for a coronary sinus electrogram.[5] The coronary sinus connects directly with the right atrium. It will dilate as a result of any condition that causes elevated right atrial pressure, such as pulmonary hypertension.[7] Dilated coronary sinus is also seen in some congenital cardiovascular conditions, such as persistent left superior vena cava,[8] and total anomalous pulmonary venous return.[9]

Additional images

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wilson, Alexander; Bhutta, Beenish S. (2022), "Anatomy, Thorax, Coronary Sinus", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32491498, retrieved 2023-01-05
  2. ^ a b 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)
  3. ^ a b Shah, Sanket S.; Teague, Shawn D.; Lu, Jimmy C.; Dorfman, Adam L.; Kazerooni, Ella A.; Agarwal, Prachi P. (July 2012). "Imaging of the Coronary Sinus: Normal Anatomy and Congenital Abnormalities". RadioGraphics. 32 (4): 991–1008. doi:10.1148/rg.324105220. ISSN 0271-5333. PMID 22786990.
  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.
  5. ^ a b Issa, Ziad F.; Miller, John M.; Zipes, Douglas P. (2019-01-01), Issa, Ziad F.; Miller, John M.; Zipes, Douglas P. (eds.), "4 - Electrophysiological Testing: Tools and Techniques", Clinical Arrhythmology and Electrophysiology (Third Edition), Philadelphia: Elsevier, pp. 81–124, ISBN 978-0-323-52356-1, retrieved 2021-01-12
  6. ^ a b c d e f Ryan, Stephanie (2011). "Chapter 3". Anatomy for diagnostic imaging (Third ed.). Elsevier Ltd. p. 137. ISBN 9780702029714.
  7. ^ Mahmud E, Raisinghani A, Keramati S, Auger W, Blanchard DG, DeMaria AN. "Dilation of the coronary sinus on echocardiogram: prevalence and significance in patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension". J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2001 Jan;14(1):44–49. doi:10.1067/mje.2001.108538. PMID 11174433.
  8. ^ Savu C, Petreanu C, Melinte A, Posea R, Balescu I, Iliescu L, Diaconu C, Galie N, Bacalbasa N. "Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava – Accidental Finding". In Vivo. 2020 Mar–Apr;34(2):935–941. doi:10.21873/invivo.11861. PMID 32111807 PMC PMC7157846.
  9. ^ Gupta A, Mishra A, Shrivastava Y. "Repair of intracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous return". Multimed Man Cardiothorac Surg. 2021 Mar 8;2021. doi:10.1510/mmcts.2021.015. PMID 33904266
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