The anterior cardiac veins, also known as the anterior cardiac veins of right ventricle, are the small parallel veins found on the anterior surface of the right ventricle.
The function of the anterior cardiac veins is to drain the upper anterior portion of the myocardium of the right ventricle. These veins empty directly into the right atrium, unlike the majority of the cardiac veins that empty into the coronary sinus.
This article will discuss the anatomy and function of the anterior cardiac veins.
Key facts about the anterior cardiac veins
Drains to
Right atrium of the heart
Drainage area
Upper part of the anterior surface of the right ventricle
The 3-5 anterior cardiac veins emerge on the anterior surface of the right ventricle. They course horizontally across the surface of the ventricle, located deep to the epicardial layer of the heart. The anterior cardiac veins reach the atrioventricular groove, where they pass deep to the right coronary artery and empty directly into the right atrium.
Sometimes, the anterior cardiac veins may converge into a common vessel before entering the atrium. The function of the anterior cardiac veins is to drain the venous blood of the upper part of the anterior surface of the right ventricle.
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Tubbs, R. S., Shoja, M. M., Loukas, M., & Bergman, R. A. (2016). Bergman’s comprehensive encyclopedia of human anatomic variation. Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell.
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