Posterior cardiac vein

Posterior Cardiac Vein

Illustration of the Posterior Cardiac Vein from Gray's Anatomy

The Posterior Cardiac Vein is a blood vessel that drains the area of the heart known as the myocardium. It is part of the coronary circulation system, which supplies the heart with oxygenated blood and removes deoxygenated blood.

Structure

The Posterior Cardiac Vein runs along the posterior part of the coronary sulcus, draining the back of the left ventricle. It typically merges with the coronary sinus before entering the right atrium.

Function

The primary function of the Posterior Cardiac Vein is to carry deoxygenated blood from the myocardium back to the right atrium of the heart. This is a crucial part of the coronary circulation, as it helps to remove waste products from the heart muscle and maintain its health and function.

Clinical significance

Understanding the anatomy and function of the Posterior Cardiac Vein is important in several medical fields, including cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery. It can be involved in various heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease and heart failure, and may be targeted in certain surgical procedures.

See also

• Coronary circulation
• Coronary sinus
• Heart

External links

• Posterior Cardiac Vein at AnatomyExpert.com