Great cardiac vein
Encyclopedia
The Great Cardiac Vein begins at the apex of the heart
and ascends along the anterior longitudinal sulcus
to the base of the ventricles
.
It then curves to the left in the coronary sulcus
, and reaching the back of the heart, opens into the left extremity of the coronary sinus
.
It receives tributaries from the left atrium
and from both ventricles: one, the left marginal vein
, is of considerable size, and ascends along the left margin of the heart.
Apex of the heart
The apex of the heart is the lowest superficial part of the heart.It is directed downward, forward, and to the left, and is overlapped by the left lung and pleura.-External anatomy:...
and ascends along the anterior longitudinal sulcus
Anterior longitudinal sulcus
The ventricles of the heart are separated by two grooves, one of which, the anterior longitudinal sulcus , is situated on the sternocostal surface of the heart, close to its left margin. The other groove separating the ventricles is the posterior interventricular sulcus....
to the base of the ventricles
Ventricle (heart)
In the heart, a ventricle is one of two large chambers that collect and expel blood received from an atrium towards the peripheral beds within the body and lungs. The Atria primes the Pump...
.
It then curves to the left in the coronary sulcus
Coronary sulcus
The atria of the heart are separated from the ventricles by the coronary sulcus ; this contains the trunks of the nutrient vessels of the heart, and is deficient in front, where it is crossed by the root of the pulmonary artery.-External links:*...
, and reaching the back of the heart, opens into the left extremity of the coronary sinus
Coronary sinus
The coronary sinus is a collection of veins joined together to form a large vessel that collects blood from the myocardium of the heart. It is present in all mammals, including humans...
.
It receives tributaries from the left atrium
Left atrium
The left atrium is one of the four chambers in the human heart. It receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary veins, and pumps it into the left ventricle, via the mitral valve.-Foramen ovale:...
and from both ventricles: one, the left marginal vein
Left marginal vein
The great cardiac vein receives tributaries from the left atrium and from both ventricles: one, the left marginal vein, is of considerable size, and ascends along the left margin of the heart....
, is of considerable size, and ascends along the left margin of the heart.