Comparative research on the topography of middle and small cardiac veins in humans and other primates

Abstract

Many researchers have been interested in cardiac veins, which at present play a very important clinical role in invasive cardiology. In this study the occurrence of middle and small cardiac veins and the topography of their outlet portions were examined. The material consisted of 150 adult human hearts of both sexes of 18 to 85 years of age and 50 adult hearts of representatives of various primates. In the material examined a middle cardiac vein was always observed, whereas the presence of a small cardiac vein was less consistent. The outlet portions of the main veins of the heart were characterised by significant variability.