Coronary sinus

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The coronary sinus (from

• Great cardiac vein (run upwards in the anterior interventricular sulcus to the left atrioventricular groove to form the coronary sinus;^[6]
• Middle cardiac vein (ascends posterior interventricular sulcus to drain into coronary sinus);^[6]
• Small cardiac vein (accompanies right coronary artery in the right atrioventricular groove to drain into the right side of the coronary sinus;^[6]
• Posterior vein of left ventricle (accompanies the left marginal artery, ascends the posterior wall of left ventricle to drain into the coronary sinus);^[6]
• Oblique vein of left atrium.^[1]

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

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

Function

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

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.^[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

• 
  Diagram showing completion of development of the parietal veins.
• 
  Posterior view of coronary circulation

See also

• Coronary arteries
• Percutaneous coronary intervention
• Cardiac skeleton

References