The base of the heart is its posterior surface, formed mainly by the left atrium with a small part of the right atrium. Despite the name it faces backwards towards the vertebral column, opposite the apex, and receives the pulmonary veins.
| Location | Posterior surface of the heart, facing the bodies of the T6-T9 vertebrae, separated from them by the oesophagus and descending aorta |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Cardiac plexus |
| Blood Supply | Circumflex artery; Right coronary artery |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Receives the great veins, especially the four pulmonary veins entering the left atrium.
Because the left atrium lies directly in front of the oesophagus, transoesophageal echocardiography gives excellent views of it and the mitral valve. An enlarged left atrium can press on the oesophagus and cause difficulty swallowing. Ablation for atrial fibrillation targets tissue around the pulmonary vein openings here.
Enlargement from mitral valve disease or atrial fibrillation that can compress the oesophagus.
Irregular rhythm often triggered from the pulmonary vein openings at the base of the heart.
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