The pericardial sinuses are impressions in the pericardial sac formed between the points where great vessels enter it.
| Pericardial sinus | |
|---|---|
 Posterior wall of the pericardial sac, showing the lines of reflection of the serous
pericardium on the
great vessels. (Transverse sinus labeled at center. Oblique sinus not labeled, but visible inferior to transverse sinus between the right and left
pulmonary veins) | |
| Identifiers | |
| TA98 | A12.1.07.001 |
| TA2 | 3349 |
| FMA | 77132 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
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)
