Right (anterior) aortic sinus
Aortic sinus
The sinus of Valsalva behind the right cusp of the aortic valve; the ostium of the right coronary artery opens here. Coronary flow to the left ventricle occurs mainly in diastole, because systolic wall tension compresses the intramural vessels.
Detail
- Gives rise to
- Right coronary artery
- Timing of flow
- LV perfused mostly in diastole; RV in both phases
- Most vulnerable layer
- LV subendocardium (highest wall tension, diastole-only flow)
- Resting flow
- About 250 mL/min (5% of cardiac output)
When it goes wrong
Tachycardia or aortic stenosis shortens diastole and raises LV wall tension
Subendocardial ischaemia and angina without any coronary stenosis
Left coronary artery arising anomalously from the right sinus with an interarterial course
Exertional syncope or sudden cardiac death in a young athlete
Practise this structure
1 question in the bank tagged Coronary Circulation.