Great cardiac vein

Vein: Great cardiac vein
Base and diaphragmatic surface of heart. (Great cardiac vein labeled at center left.)
Pulmonary vessels, seen in a dorsal view of the heart and lungs. The lungs have been pulled away from the median line, and a part of the right lung has been cut away to display the air-ducts and bloodvessels. (Great coronary vein labeled at center bottom.)
Latin vena cordis magna, vena cardiaca magna
Gray's subject #166 642
Drains to coronary sinus

The Great Cardiac Vein (left coronary 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.

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This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.