European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Introduction:The initial portion of the aortic root, which  consists of leaflets of the aortic valve, is occupied by the aortic sinuses, also called the sinuses of Valsalva(1). The aortic sinuses reach beyond the upper border of the cusp and form a well-defined, complete, and circumferential sinutubular ridge when viewed from the aortic aspect. The right coronary artery arises from the right coronary sinus (anterior aortic sinus) of the ascending aorta.. Malformations of the position of the ostia and origin of coronary arteries lead to high risk of sudden death.
Aim: To find the number and level of ostia in right aortic sinus.  
Materials and Methods: 150 cadaveric hearts of both male and female with unknown age fixed in 10% formalin were used to study the the number and level of ostia in right aortic sinus.
Results and Discussion:Out of 150 cadaveric heart studied single ostia is seen in121of heart samples (80.67%). Two ostia seen in 27 of heart samples (18%) and three or more ostia  seen in 2 of heart samples (1.33%). Out of 150 cadaveric hearts studied in 143hearts (95.33%) the ostia is seen below the sinu tubular junction. In 4 hearts (2.67%) the ostia is seen at sinu tubular junctionand in 3 hearts (2%) the ostia is seen above the sinu tubular junction.Murli manju et al (2006) reported that the right coronary ostium below the sinu tubular junction is 16% and above the sinutubular junction in 2% of the cases. Subhash et al (2010) reported the location of right coronary ostium below the sinu tubular junction is 89%. In this study the difference found at all the 3 level with reference to Murli manju et al 2006 could have been due to geographical differences as described by Gouda Hareeshet al (2009)
Conclusion: Thepresence of multiple ostium is suggestive of right conus artery must have been directly arise from the aorta, right coronary artery, SA nodal artery,vasovasorum of pulmonary trunk and anamolous origin of left coronary artery.In most of the heart specimens 95.33% the ostia were seen below the sinu tubular junction.