Anatomic Variations of the Orifice of the Human Coronary Sinus

Abstract

Anatomic variations of the orifice of the human coronary sinus now have practical significance since the advent of catheterization of the coronary sinus. Six main types of variation of the valve of the coronary sinus of 150 hearts are described. The difficulties encountered in catheterization of the human coronary sinus are probably due to obstruction offered by large membranes, bars and networks, and less frequently due to the presence of a large eustachian ridge. On the basis of this study, catheterization of the human coronary sinus should be possible in a maximum of 75 per cent of the cases.