Aortic sinuses

The aortic sinuses (Sinuses of Valsalva) are three anatomic outpouchings of the aortic root located just above the aortic valve cusps and below the sinotubular junction. Each sinus is associated with one of the three aortic valve cusps: the right coronary sinus, left coronary sinus, and noncoronary sinus. The right and left coronary sinuses give rise to the respective coronary arteries, while the noncoronary sinus does not contain a coronary ostium.

These sinuses serve important physiological functions, including facilitating the closure of the aortic valve and promoting optimal coronary blood flow by creating eddy currents that direct blood into the coronary ostia during diastole.

The right and left coronary sinuses should not be confused with the term "coronary sinus", which is a venous structure located in the posterior atrioventricular groove.The right coronary sinus is a component of the aortic root and does not have direct venous drainage or a role in the coronary venous system.