The coronary sinus is the largest vein of the heart. 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).

Structure

Origin

The coronary sinus arises upon the posterior aspect of the heart between the left atrium, and left ventricle. The coronary sinus commences at the union of the great cardiac vein, and the oblique vein of the left atrium. 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.

Course

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

Fate

The coronary sinus drains through the posterior wall of right atrium at the orifice of the coronary sinus. This orifice is located at the posteroinferior aspect of the right atrium, just medial and to the left of the orifice of inferior vena cava, and between the inferior vena cava and the right atrioventricular orifice/tricuspid valve. 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).

Tributaries

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. 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. 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.

Microanatomy

The wall of the coronary sinus is partly muscular.

Function

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

Clinical significance

Electrodes can be inserted into and through the coronary sinus to study the electrophysiology of the heart. This includes for a coronary sinus electrogram. 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. Dilated coronary sinus is also seen in some congenital cardiovascular conditions, such as persistent left superior vena cava, and total anomalous pulmonary venous return.

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