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Crista terminalis

Anatomical feature of the heart From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Crista terminalis
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The crista terminalis (also known as the terminal crest,[citation needed] or crista terminalis of His[1]) is a vertical ridge on the[2]:56 posterolateral[3] inner surface of the adult right atrium extending between the superior vena cava, and the inferior vena cava.[2]:56 The crista terminalis denotes where the junction of the embryologic sinus venosus and the right atrium occurred during embryonic development.[3] It forms a boundary between the rough[2]:56 trabecular[4] portion and the smooth, sinus venosus-derived portion (sinus venarum) of the internal surface of the right atrium. The sinoatrial node is located within the crista terminalis.[2]:56

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Anatomy

The crista terminalis generally takes the form of a smooth-surfaced, crescent-shaped thickened portion of heart muscle at the opening into the right atrial appendage.[citation needed] It consists of fibromuscular tissue.[3]

Features

On the external aspect of the right atrium, corresponding to the crista terminalis, is a groove - the terminal sulcus.[citation needed]

The crista terminalis provides the origin for the pectinate muscles.[citation needed]

The sinoatrial node is located in the superior part of the crista terminalis at the junction of the right atrium, and superior vena cava.[2]:60

Development

During the development of the human heart, the right horn and transverse portion of the sinus venosus ultimately become incorporated with and form a part of the adult right atrium.[1] The right sinus horn[4] of the sinus venosus develops into the sinus venarum; in the adult right atrium, the portion of right atrium derived from the sinus venosus has a smooth inner surface.[2]:56

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Clinical significance

A prominent crista terminalis may be mistaken for a cardiac mass during heart imaging; a prominent crista terminalis appears as a hyperechoic ridge on echocardiography, and homogenous to adjacent atrial wall on CT and MRI.[3]

See also

References

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