Most venous blood from the anterior wall of the right ventricle drains by small veins that empty directly into the right atrium, bypassing the coronary sinus. What are these veins called?

• A Small cardiac vein
• B Anterior cardiac veins ✓
• C Oblique vein of the left atrium
• D Venae cordis minimae

Explanation

The anterior cardiac veins, usually two or three in number, run on the anterior wall of the right ventricle and drain directly into the right atrium, independent of the coronary sinus. The small cardiac vein accompanies the marginal branch of the right coronary artery and joins the coronary sinus, option C drains the left atrium and represents the remnant of the left superior vena cava, and option D refers to tiny Thebesian veins draining into all chambers.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.