Pericardial sinus
The pericardial sinuses are impressions in the pericardial sac formed between the points where great vessels enter it.
Pericardial sinus | |
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Identifiers | |
TA98 | A12.1.07.001 |
TA2 | 3349 |
FMA | 77132 |
Anatomical terminology |
Structure
There are three pericardial sinuses: superior, transverse and oblique.[1]
- The superior sinus is anterior to the ascending aorta and the pulmonary trunk.[1] It cannot be assessed in electrophysiology procedures.[1]
- The oblique sinus is an inverted left atrium),[1]and in between left and right pulmonary veins.
- The transverse sinus is the tunnel-shaped passage posterior to the pulmonary trunk , and anterior to the superior vena cava.[1][2] 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 performed during some heart surgeries.[citation needed]
Clinical significance
During pericardial effusion, fluid may build up in the pericardial sinuses.[3] This may be diagnosed with transoesophageal echocardiography.[3]
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 526 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ ISBN 978-0-323-52356-1, retrieved 2020-11-16
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4557-0761-4, retrieved 2020-11-16
- ^ ISBN 978-0-323-35825-5, retrieved 2020-11-16
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)