THE CARDIAC VEINS. 



503 



and is described by liim under the name of vena lyarumhiUcalis. (Champneys, 

 " Joum. of Anat.," vol. vi., p. 410). 



VEINS OF THE HEART. 



The greater number of the cardiac veius are collected into a large 

 common trunk which pours its blood into the posterior part of the 

 right auricle, in the angle between the inferior vena cava and the right 

 auriculo-ventricular orifice. The terminal part of this vein is consi- 

 derably dilated, and is named the coronary sinus. The prmcipal 

 veins "leading into it are named the great, the posterior, and the 

 anterior coronary veins. Among these the first alone deserves the 

 name of coronary, as it surrounds the heart in the left auriculo-ventri- 

 cular groove. 



Besides the larger cardiac veins which join the great coronary smus, 

 there are also small separate veins (vence minim^e cordis), which open 

 directlv into the right auricle, especially along its right border. The 

 openings of these veins, as well as some depressions which do not admit 

 veins, have been named /ora;?i«ia Thebesii. 



Fig. 321. — View of the Abult Heart, Fig. 321. 



FROM BEHIND, TO SHOW THE CoKOXARY VeINS. 



(A. T.) 1 



«, placed on the back of the right auricle, 

 points to the Eustachian valve seen within 

 the opening of the inferior vena cava ; h, the 

 back of the left auricle; c, the right ventri- 

 cle ; d, left ventricle ; e, vena cava supe- 

 rior ; /, arch of the aorta ; 1, sinus of the 

 great coronary vein ; 2, great coronary vein turn- 

 ing round the heart in the auriculo-ventricular 

 groove ; 3, 4, posterior branches ; 5, one of the 

 small right cardiac veins passing directly into 

 the right auricle ; 6, the vestige of the left 

 superior vena cava proceeding over the left 

 auricle do\\Tiwards to join the coronary sinus. 



The veins of the heart are without 

 valves excepting at their terminations. 



The great cardiac vein (vena cordis 

 magna) is a vessel of considerable 

 size, and from the way in which it 

 coils round the left side of the base 

 of the heart, or rather of the ven- 

 tricle, it may be named "coronary." Its chief branch runs along the 

 groove upon the fore part of the heart, corresponding with the septum 

 of the ventricles. Commencing at the apex of the heart, it gradually 

 increases in size as it approaches the base of the ventricles, and then 

 inclining backwards and to the left side in the groove between tlie left 

 auricle and ventricle, ends in the coronary sinus : a valve of two seg- 

 ments closes its aperture in the sinus. In this course it receives 

 branches from the ventricles, especially from the left, and also from 

 the left auricle : and as it passes round the thick margin of the left 

 ventricle, it receives a vein of some size which ascends to join it. 



The posterior cardiac veins ascend on the back of the ventricles, 

 especially on the left, and open into the coronary sinus by four or more 



