Oblique vein of the left atrium

Oblique vein of the left atrium
Base and diaphragmatic surface of heart. (Oblique vein of the left atrium labeled at center left.)
Details
Drains fromLeft atrium
Drains toCoronary sinus
Identifiers
Latinvena obliqua atrii sinistri
TA98A12.3.01.007
TA24163
FMA4715
Anatomical terminology

The oblique vein of the left atrium (oblique vein of Marshall) is a small vein which descends obliquely on the back of the left atrium and ends in the coronary sinus near its left extremity; it is continuous above with the ligament of the left vena cava (vestigial fold of Marshall), and the two structures form the remnant of the left Cuvierian duct. This obscure region of cardiac perfusion adjacent to the SA node rocks back and forth under systole and diastole thus further influencing cardiac autonomic innervation. Ablation of this channel seems reasonable to many observers.