Coronary veins

CORONARY VEINS

· The coronary venous system is composed of two parts:

1) Left Cardiac Venous System

2) Right Cardiac Venous System

· Left Cardiac Venous System (Coronary Sinus System)

· Receives tributaries from most of the superficial veins of the heart; draining into the coronary sinus are:

1) Great Cardiac vein

2) Middle Cardiac vein

3) Small Cardiac vein

4) Left Marginal vein

5) Left Posterior Ventricular vein

6) Oblique vein (Vein of Marshall)

· The Coronary Sinus, located posteriorly in the coronary sulcus, enters the right atrium near the tricuspid valve; the entry point in guarded by an incomplete valve— the Thebesius valve

· [note]: that the cardiac veins accompany the coronary arteries and their branches: great cardiac vein & the LAD; middle cardiac vein & the PDA; small cardiac vein & acute marginal artery

· Right Cardiac Venous System (Anterior Cardiac Venous System )

· Is composed of veins which originate on the anterolateral surface of the right ventricle and drain directly into the right atrium. This system includes:

1) Anterior Cardiac veins

2) Right Marginal vein

· venae cordis minimae, the smallest vessels, drain the myocardium directly into the atria & ventricles