Vein of Marshall
The vein of Marshall, oblique vein of Marshall or the oblique vein of the left atrium is a small vein that descends on and drains the posterior wall of the left atrium. It drains directly into the coronary sinus at the same end as the great cardiac vein, marking the origin of the sinus.
It represents the persistent left horn of the sinus venous (left SVC) and is important prenatally, but is of little importance postnatally.
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Variant anatomy
It may be completely absent, in which case surrounding veins will drain the left atrium.
Related pathology
The pericardial folds surrounding this vessel, the Marshall ligament, may be a source of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and hence targeted during radio frequency ablation 4.
History and etymology
It is named after John Marshall (1818 - 1891): English surgeon and anatomist.
Related Radiopaedia articles
Anatomy: Thoracic
- thoracic skeleton
- thoracic cage
- thoracic spine
- articulations
- muscles of the thorax
- diaphragm
- intercostal space
- intercostal muscles
- variant anatomy
- spaces of the thorax
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lungs
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bronchopulmonary segmental anatomy (Boyden Classification) (mnemonic)
- left lung
- right lung
- variant anatomy
- lung parenchyma
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bronchopulmonary segmental anatomy (Boyden Classification) (mnemonic)
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heart
- cardiac chambers
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- innervation of the heart
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pericardium
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pericardial recesses
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thoracic aorta (development)
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thoracic aorta (development)
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coronary veins
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- great cardiac vein
- middle cardiac vein
- small cardiac vein
- posterior vein of the left ventricle
- vein of Marshall (oblique vein of the left atrium)
- anterior cardiac veins
- venae cordis minimae (smallest cardiac veins or thebesian veins)
- cardiac veins which drain into the coronary sinus
- pulmonary veins
- arteries
- lymphatics
- innervation of the thorax
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