small cardiac veins (anatomy)
Last reviewed 01/2018
The small cardiac veins commence on the inferior border of the sternocostal surface of the heart. They pass to the right in the company of the marginal branch of the right coronary artery. Then, they may take one of two courses:
- pass superiorly to enter the right atrium directly; may be considered as the most inferior of the anterior cardiac veins
- enter the anterior section of the atrioventricular groove to pass around the inferior border of the heart; continue in the groove to drain into the coronary sinus to the right of the middle cardiac vein
The small cardiac veins drain part of the right ventricle.