Aortic sinus

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Aortic sinus
Gray497.png
Aorta laid open to show the semilunar valves. (N.B. captions don't align with current terminology)
Details
Synonymssinus of Valsalva
Identifiers
Latin sinus aortae
MeSH D012850
TA98 A12.2.03.002
TA2 4001
FMA 3745
Anatomical terminology

An aortic sinus, also known as a sinus of Valsalva, [1] is one of the anatomic dilations of the ascending aorta, which occurs just above the aortic valve. These widenings are between the wall of the aorta and each of the three cusps of the aortic valve. [2]

Contents

The aortic sinuses cause eddies which prevent the valve cusps from touching the internal surface of the aorta and obstructing the openings of the coronary arteries. [3]

Structure

There are generally three aortic sinuses, one anterior and two posterior sinuses. These give rise to coronary arteries: [4] [ better source needed ]

The aortic sinuses are typically more prominent than the pulmonary sinuses. [5]

Clinical significance

If the coronary arteries arise from the wrong aortic sinuses, this can put the heart's ventricles at risk of ischaemia. [6] This is often only discovered when a heart attack has already occurred, usually before the age of 20 and during exercise. [6]

Names

Each aortic sinus can also be referred to as the sinus of Valsalva, [1] the sinus of Morgagni, the sinus of Mehta, the sinus of Otto, or Petit's sinus.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Weinreich, Michael; Yu, Pey-Jen; Trost, Biana (2015). "Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysms: Review of the Literature and an Update on Management". Clinical Cardiology. 38 (3): 185–189. doi:10.1002/clc.22359. ISSN   1932-8737. PMC   6711005 . PMID   25757442.
  2. Dorland's (2012). Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary (32nd ed.). Elsevier. p. 1719. ISBN   978-1-4160-6257-8.
  3. Koeppen, Bruce M.; Stanton, Bruce A.; Swiatecka-Urban, Agnieszka, eds. (2024). Berne & Levy Physiology (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier. ISBN   978-0-323-84790-2.
  4. Deng, Francis. "Sinus of Valsalva | Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  5. Issa, Ziad F.; Miller, John M.; Zipes, Douglas P. (2012-01-01), Issa, Ziad F.; Miller, John M.; Zipes, Douglas P. (eds.), "Chapter 23 - Adenosine-Sensitive (Outflow Tract) Ventricular Tachycardia" , Clinical Arrhythmology and Electrophysiology: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease (Second Edition), Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, pp. 562–586, doi:10.1016/b978-1-4557-1274-8.00023-3, ISBN   978-1-4557-1274-8 , retrieved 2020-11-11
  6. 1 2 Thiene, G.; Rizzo, S.; Basso, C. (2016-01-01), Buja, L. Maximilian; Butany, Jagdish (eds.), "Chapter 10 - Pathology of Sudden Death, Cardiac Arrhythmias and Conduction System" , Cardiovascular Pathology (Fourth Edition), San Diego: Academic Press, pp. 361–433, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-420219-1.00010-0, ISBN   978-0-12-420219-1 , retrieved 2020-11-11