Macroanatomic Investigations on the Venous Drainage of the Heart in Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Abstract

In this study, origin, course and termination of the veins in the hearts of 9 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (4 female and 5 male) with unknown ages were investigated. The animals, badly injured due to firearm or traffic accident, and that died despite all interventions after being referred to the faculty clinics, were used. To visualize heart veins, latex was injected into the left azygos vein. The results were indicated that venous drainage of the hearts was provided by the great cardiac vein, left marginal ventricular vein, middle cardiac vein, right cardiac veins and the smallest cardiac veins. The first three veins were particularly responsable for transporting venous blood to the coronary sinus. Furthermore it was observed that left distal ventricular vein was joined coronary sinus in one cadaver. The right cardiac veins were transported venous blood to the right atrium and the smallest cardiac veins supplied venous blood to the right atrium and right ventricle chambers. It was observed that the venous blood of the interventricular septum was collected by the great and middle cardiac veins.