The middle cardiac vein commences at the
apex of the heart
The heart is a muscular organ found in humans and other animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels. The heart and blood vessels together make the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the tissu ...
. It passes posteriorly along the
inferior interventricular sulcus to end at the
coronary sinus
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 begi ...
near the sinus' termination.
Structure
Origin
The middle cardiac vein commences at the
cardiac apex (here, it is contiguous with the
great cardiac vein, thus forming - along with the
coronary sinus
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 begi ...
- a complete venous circle).
Variation
The middle cardiac vein has a constant location on the surface of the
ventricles.
Clinical significance
The middle cardiac vein is useful for epicardial access to the inferior side of the ventricles.
References
External links
* - "Posterior view of the heart."
Veins of the torso
{{circulatory-stub