Small cardiac vein

Definition

The small cardiac vein runs alongside the right margin of the heart, collecting deoxygenated blood from the myocardium (heart muscle) and returning it to the right atrium. It typically accompanies the right coronary artery in its course.

Related terms

Myocardium:

The muscular tissue of the heart that contracts to pump blood throughout the body.

Right Atrium:

One of the four chambers of the heart, receiving deoxygenated blood from the body and pumping it into the right ventricle.

Coronary Arteries:

The network of arteries surrounding and supplying blood to the myocardium (heart muscle)