What does the anterior cardiac venous system comprise?

The anterior cardiac venous system comprises the small cardiac vein, right marginal vein, and sinus node vein. This structure plays a crucial role in cardiac venous drainage, particularly of the right atrium and parts of the right ventricle.

The small cardiac vein is primarily responsible for collecting blood from the right side of the heart, specifically the right atrium and right ventricle, and subsequently drains into the right atrium or sometimes into the coronary sinus. The right marginal vein also contributes to this drainage, running along the right border of the heart and gathering blood from the myocardium. The sinus node vein drains the area around the sinoatrial node, which is essential for maintaining the heart's rhythm.

Understanding the exact components of this venous system is important for procedures involving cardiac surgery and for understanding how venous return from the heart muscle is managed, particularly after ischemia or myocardial infarction.