Contributions to the morphology of the human coronary sinus.

The configuration and morphological features of the coronary sinus (c.s.) were studied on 54 human adult hearts. The c.s. has on an average 36 mm in length and 9 mm in diameter. The most frequent is the cylindrical configuration (67%), then follows the so-called "wafer" form (19%) and the funnel shaped c.s. (13%). The valve of Vieussens was present in 78%, but well developed only in 6% of the cases. The classical opening of the middle and small cardiac veins into c.s. was remarked in 28%; for the rest the particular forms described in this work make themselves obvious. The large tributaries of c.s. are provided with ostial valves in a percentage of 41%. The form and dimensions of the Thebesius valve are very variable; it is absent in 9% of the cases. The Marshall's vein appears as an obturated cord in a proportion of 20%. In each case there was found on the surface of the c.s. a myocardial coat, consisting of two layers, which form a device having probably a constrictive function during the atrial systole.