Drainage patterns of coronary arterial flow as determined from the isolated heart

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Abstract
The distribution and drainage patterns of coronary arterial flow were studied in the living isolated canine heart. Before commencing perfuslon through the aortic root, the mitral and tricuspid valves were occluded and catheters placed in the separated chambers and coronary sinus. Total and individual coronary distributions were then measured by timed volume collections from each catheter. PO2 [O2 tension] measurements determined whether blood had passed through a capillary bed. Of total coronary flow, 49% drains into the right atrium via the coronary sinus and 24% via the anterior cardiac veins and is fully desaturated, 5% enters the left ventricular lumen partially desaturated, and 22% enters the right ventricular lumen fully desaturated. This indicates that the vascular anatomy of cardiac muscle is different from other muscle, and the vascular structure of the right ventricle is different from the left. Three-fourths of coronary flow enters the right atrium through a standard capillary-venous system and the remainder drains into the ventricular lumens. This occurs by Thebesian veins on the right and myocardial sinusoids on the left.