Right Lateral Presentation of the Coronary Sulcus

Description

Viewed from the right lateral aspect of the heart, the coronary sulcus (atrioventricular groove, auriculoventricular sulcus) tracks horizontally around the cardiac silhouette at the junction of the right atrium superiorly and the right ventricle inferiorly. The right atrial wall and right atrial appendage (auricle) sit anterior and superior to the groove, while the free wall of the right ventricle forms the inferior margin. Within this fat-filled sulcus, the right coronary artery typically courses anteriorly and inferiorly toward the acute margin, accompanied by small atrial and ventricular branches and variably by the small cardiac vein. Orientation matters here because the right coronary artery runs in this groove and supplies structures that fail loudly when ischemic. Sinus node artery origin from the proximal right coronary is common, and conduction system perfusion often depends on atrioventricular nodal branches arising near the crux where the coronary sulcus meets the posterior interventricular sulcus. Arrhythmia territory. The right lateral presentation also clarifies surgical and interventional landmarks, including the relationship of the atrioventricular groove to the tricuspid annulus and to epicardial fat planes used during coronary artery bypass grafting and ablation procedures. Cardiology and gross anatomy instructors can drop this image directly into modules on coronary circulation, atrioventricular anatomy, and surface landmarks of the heart, while authors of operative atlases can reference it when describing right coronary artery exposure along the right atrioventricular groove. It also fits well in clinical teaching files discussing inferior wall myocardial infarction patterns, right ventricular involvement, and catheter-based mapping near the tricuspid valve annulus. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.