The Cardiovascular system - Cardiac veins

Question 1

How many tributaries drain into the coronary sinus?

Answer 1

5

Question 2

What are the tributaries?

Answer 2

• The great cardiac vein is the main tributary. It originates at the apex of the heart and follows the anterior interventricular groove into the coronary sulcus and around the left side of the heart to join the coronary sinus.
• The small cardiac vein is also located on the anterior surface of the heart. This passes around the right side of the heart to join the coronary sinus.
• Another vein which drains the right side of the heart is the middle cardiac vein. It is located on the posterior surface of the heart.
• The final 2 cardiac veins are also on the posterior surface of the heart:
• On the left posterior side is the left marginal vein.
• In the centre is the left posterior ventricular vein which runs along the posterior interventricular sulcus to join the coronary sinus.