Great cardiac vein

The great cardiac vein originates near the cardiac apex in the anterior interventricular sulcus, running alongside the anterior interventricular (left anterior descending) artery. In this region, this first portion of the great cardiac vein may be called anterior interventricular vein*. The great cardiac vein ascends in this groove toward the base of the heart, then curves leftward at the coronary sulcus, where it forms the base of the triangle of Brocq and Mouchet with the bifurcating branches of the left coronary artery. In this region, the vein is usually superficial to the arteries in the majority of cases.

The great cardiac vein continues posteriorly in the left atrioventricular (coronary) sulcus, where it becomes the main tributary of the coronary sinus. Along its course, it receives blood from the left atrium and both ventricles, including the left marginal vein (which drains the lateral wall of the left ventricle) in most cases.

The diameter of the great cardiac vein varies, with reported measurements around 5–7 mm at the level of the Vieussens valve, and it is often in close proximity to the mitral valve annulus and the left atrium.

*There is a lot of mispelling and ambiguities in the description of the great cardiac vein, mainly because some sources includes the term anterior interventricular vein whereas other sources (Gray) doesn't cite it. We (the author of this definition) think that the best description is from Barone: the great cardiac vein is the longest and biggest vein of the heart, begin at the apex of the heart and end in the coronary sulcus, but may be segmented into two portions

• The first portion of the great cardiac vein in the anterior interventricular sulcus, could be called "interventricular segment of great cardiac vein" but corresponds to the anterior interventricular vein.

• The second portion, in the left coronary sulcus, could be called as "coronary segment of great cardiac vein" but corresponds to the "great cardiac vein" proper if we consider that the anterior interventricular vein exists. This second portion of the great cardiac vein receives the Left marginal vein of heart