Aortic sinus

Aortic sinus
Aorta laid open to show the semilunar valves. (N.B. captions don't align with current terminology)
Details
Synonymssinus of Valsalva
Identifiers
Latinsinus aortae
MeSHD012850
TA98A12.2.03.002
TA24001
FMA3745
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]

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]

  1. ^ 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.