The coronary sulcus is the groove that runs around the outside of the heart where the atria meet the ventricles, like a belt around its upper part. It marks the position of the atrioventricular valves inside and carries the main coronary vessels, cushioned by epicardial fat.
| Location | Encircles the heart at the atrioventricular junction, interrupted in front by the roots of the aorta and pulmonary trunk |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Cardiac plexus (fibres travelling with the coronary vessels) |
| Blood Supply | Right coronary artery; Circumflex branch of the left coronary artery |
| Venous drainage | |
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Serves as a protected channel for the main coronary arteries and veins and marks the external boundary between atria and ventricles.
The sulcus is a key surgical landmark: bypass grafts and the coronary sinus are found here, and the coronary sinus opening is used for retrograde cardioplegia and for pacing leads in cardiac resynchronisation therapy. Fat in the sulcus increases with obesity and is visible on CT.
Narrowing of the right coronary or circumflex artery as they run in the sulcus, causing angina or infarction of the territory they supply.
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