Pericardial sinus

Pericardial sinus
File:Gray489.png
Posterior wall of the pericardial sac, showing the lines of reflection of the serous pericardium on the great vessels. (Transverse sinus labeled at center. Oblique sinus not labeled, but visible below transverse sinus.)
Gray's	subject #137 526

There are two Pericardial sinuses: transverse and oblique.

• The cul-de-sac enclosed between the limbs of the inverted U of the venous mesocardium lies behind the left atrium and is known as the oblique sinus. .

• The passage between the venous and arterial mesocardia—i.e., between the aorta and pulmonary artery in front and the superior vena cava behind—is termed the transverse sinus. Also, the sinus that forms in the pericardial cavity where the dorso-mesentary pericardium reside.
• Can be used to pass ligature during cardiac surgery.

External links

• SUNY Labs 20:04-0101 - "Heart: Transverse and Oblique Pericardial Sinuses"
• thoraxlesson4 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (pericardialsinuses)

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.