The pericardial sinuses are impressions in the pericardial sac formed between the points where great vessels enter it.
Structure
There are three pericardial sinuses: superior, transverse and oblique.[1]
- The superior sinus is anterior to the ascending aorta and the pulmonary trunk.[1] It cannot be assessed in electrophysiology procedures.[1]
- The oblique sinus is an inverted J-shaped reflection of the venae cavae and pulmonary veins.[2] It lies behind the atria (particularly the left atrium),[1] and in between left and right pulmonary veins.
- The transverse sinus is the tunnel-shaped passage posterior to the aorta and pulmonary trunk, and anterior to the superior vena cava.[1][2] This sinus is clinically important because passing one end of clamp through the sinus, and the other end anterior to the aorta/pulmonary trunk will allow complete blockage of blood output. This is performed during some heart surgeries.[citation needed]
Clinical significance
During pericardial effusion, fluid may build up in the pericardial sinuses.[3] This may be diagnosed with transoesophageal echocardiography.[3]
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 526 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ a b c d e Issa, Ziad F.; Miller, John M.; Zipes, Douglas P. (2019-01-01), Issa, Ziad F.; Miller, John M.; Zipes, Douglas P. (eds.), "27 - Epicardial Ventricular Tachycardia", Clinical Arrhythmology and Electrophysiology (Third Edition), Philadelphia: Elsevier, pp. 907–924, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-52356-1.00027-x, ISBN 978-0-323-52356-1, retrieved 2020-11-16
- ^ a b Klick, John C.; Ali, Jafer; Avery, Edwin G. (2014-01-01), Reich, David L.; Fischer, Gregory W. (eds.), "23 - Echocardiographic Evaluation of Pericardial Disease", Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography, Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, pp. 253–264, doi:10.1016/b978-1-4557-0761-4.00023-2, ISBN 978-1-4557-0761-4, retrieved 2020-11-16
- ^ a b Oxorn, Donald C.; Otto, Catherine M. (2018-01-01), Oxorn, Donald C.; Otto, Catherine M. (eds.), "9 - Pericardial disease", Intraoperative and Interventional Echocardiography (Second Edition), Elsevier, pp. 311–322, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-35825-5.00018-x, ISBN 978-0-323-35825-5, retrieved 2020-11-16
External links
- Anatomy photo:20:04-0101 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Heart: Transverse and Oblique Pericardial Sinuses"
- thoraxlesson4 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (pericardialsinuses)
