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Normal Pericardial Anatomy - Pericardial Sinuses and Recesses - II

Transverse sinus of the pericardium gross lateral views A-D. The heart is shown with only a rim of pericardium left and marked by the arrows. The transverse sinusis indicated by the asterisks as shown from the right and left sides of the heart.

* = bold>Transverse sinus seen from the right (A) left (B) lateral aspects of the heart.



These views show the transverse sinus of the pericardium. The sinus is shown in an aterior view (probe). The transverse sinus is the pericardial space delimited by the superior vena cava and anterior surfaces of the right atrium and left atrium dorsally. The ventral surface of the transverse sinus is formed by the posterior aspect of the ascending aorta and the inferior-posterior surface of the right and left pulmonary arteries before they emerge from the pericardial sac.

The right middle image shows a close up of the cephalad anterior portion of the right atrium, the superior vena cava and the ascending aorta flanking the right side of the transverse sinus (asterisk). The dotted blue line shows the superior extension of the transverse sinus between the ascending aorta and the superior vena cava or the superior aortic recess.

The right lower image shows the transverse sinus flanked by the posterior aspect of the pulmonary trunk, the lower aspect of the left pulmonary artery and the anterior aspect of the left atrium (asterisk). Ao = Aorta. LAA = Left atrial appendage. LSPV = Left superior pulmonary vein. LV = Left ventricle. PA = Pulmonary artery. RAA = Right atrial appendage. RV = Right ventricle. SVC = Superior vena cava.

The transverse sinus is demonstrated here in close up.

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