Middle cardiac vein
Blood vessel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The middle cardiac vein commences at the apex of the heart. It passes posteriorly along the inferior interventricular sulcus to end at the coronary sinus near the sinus' termination.[1]
Drains toCoronary sinus
Latinvena cardiaca media,
vena cordis media
vena cordis media
| Middle cardiac vein | |
|---|---|
Base and diaphragmatic surface of heart. (Middle cardiac vein labeled at bottom.) | |
 ARTERIES: RCA = right coronary AB = atrial branches SANB = sinuatrial nodal RMA = right marginal LCA = left coronary CB = circumflex branch LAD/AIB = anterior interventricular LMA = left marginal PIA/PDA = posterior descending AVN = atrioventricular nodal VEINS: SCV = small cardiac ACV = anterior cardiac AIV/GCV = great cardiac MCV = middle cardiac CS = coronary sinus | |
| Details | |
| Drains to | Coronary sinus |
| Artery | Posterior interventricular artery |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | vena cardiaca media, vena cordis media |
| TA98 | A12.3.01.009 |
| TA2 | 4165 |
| FMA | 4713 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
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 - a complete venous circle).[1]
Variation
The middle cardiac vein has a constant location on the surface of the ventricles.[2]
Clinical significance
The middle cardiac vein is useful for epicardial access to the inferior side of the ventricles.[3]
