Aortic sinus

{{Short description|Anatomic dilation in the left heart}} {{More citations needed|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox anatomy | Name = Aortic sinus | Synonyms = sinus of Valsalva | Latin = sinus aortae | Image = Gray497.png | Caption = Aorta laid open to show the semilunar valves. (N.B. captions don't align with current terminology) | Image2 = | Caption2 = | System = }} An '''aortic sinus''', also known as a '''sinus of Valsalva''',<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Weinreich|first1=Michael|last2=Yu|first2=Pey-Jen|last3=Trost|first3=Biana|date=2015|title=Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysms: Review of the Literature and an Update on Management|url= |journal=Clinical Cardiology|language=en|volume=38|issue=3|pages=185–189|doi=10.1002/clc.22359 |issn=1932-8737|pmc=6711005|pmid=25757442}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dorland's|title=Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary|date=2012|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=978-1-4160-6257-8|page=1719|edition=32nd}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":22">{{Cite book |title=Berne & Levy Physiology |date= |publisher=Elsevier |year=2024 |isbn=978-0-323-84790-2 |editor-last=Koeppen |editor-first=Bruce M. |edition=8th |location=Philadelphia, PA |editor-last2=Stanton |editor-first2=Bruce A. |editor-last3=Swiatecka-Urban |editor-first3=Agnieszka}}</ref>

== Structure == There are generally three aortic sinuses, one anterior and two posterior sinuses. These give rise to coronary arteries:<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Deng |first=Francis |title=Sinus of Valsalva {{!}} Radiology Reference Article {{!}} Radiopaedia.org |url=https://radiopaedia.org/articles/sinus-of-valsalva-1 |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=Radiopaedia |language=en-US}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=June 2024}} * The left aortic or left posterior aortic sinus gives rise to the left coronary artery; * The right aortic or anterior aortic sinus gives rise to the right coronary artery; * The posterior aortic or right posterior aortic sinus usually gives rise to no vessels. It is often known as the ''non-coronary'' sinus. The aortic sinuses are typically more prominent than the pulmonary sinuses.<ref>{{Citation|last1=Issa|first1=Ziad F.|title=Chapter 23 - Adenosine-Sensitive (Outflow Tract) Ventricular Tachycardia|date=2012-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781455712748000233|work=Clinical Arrhythmology and Electrophysiology: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease (Second Edition)|pages=562–586|editor-last=Issa|editor-first=Ziad F.|place=Philadelphia|publisher=W.B. Saunders|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-1-4557-1274-8.00023-3|isbn=978-1-4557-1274-8|access-date=2020-11-11|last2=Miller|first2=John M.|last3=Zipes|first3=Douglas P.|editor2-last=Miller|editor2-first=John M.|editor3-last=Zipes|editor3-first=Douglas P.|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Clinical significance == If the coronary arteries arise from the wrong aortic sinuses, this can put the heart's ventricles at risk of ischaemia.<ref name=":0">{{Citation|last1=Thiene|first1=G.|title=Chapter 10 - Pathology of Sudden Death, Cardiac Arrhythmias and Conduction System|date=2016-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124202191000100|work=Cardiovascular Pathology (Fourth Edition)|pages=361–433|editor-last=Buja|editor-first=L. Maximilian|place=San Diego|publisher=Academic Press|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-0-12-420219-1.00010-0|isbn=978-0-12-420219-1|access-date=2020-11-11|last2=Rizzo|first2=S.|last3=Basso|first3=C.|editor2-last=Butany|editor2-first=Jagdish|url-access=subscription}}</ref> This is often only discovered when a heart attack has already occurred, usually before the age of 20 and during exercise.<ref name=":0" />

== Names == Each aortic sinus can also be referred to as the '''sinus of Valsalva''',<ref name=":1" /> the '''sinus of Morgagni''', the '''sinus of Mehta''', the '''sinus of Otto''', or '''Petit's sinus'''.

==See also== * Aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{SUNYAnatomyLabs|20|29|01|08}} - "Heart: The Aortic Valve and Aortic Sinuses"

Category:Aorta