Aortic sinus of Valsalva contributes to left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) function by

Ans. D (All of the above) (Ref. Gray's anatomy 39th ed., 1009, 1016)The right and left coronary arteries to originate from the right and left aortic sinuses (the sinuses of Valsalva), which are bulges at the origin of the ascending aorta immediately beyond, or distal to, the aortic valve.The left ventricular outflow tract extends from the tip of the anterior mitral valvar leaflet to the junction of the sinuses of Valsalva with the ascending aorta.VEINS OF THE HEART# The coronary sinus is the main vein of the coronary circulation.- It lies in the posterior coronary sulcus.- It drains to an opening in the right atrium.# All veins of the heart (including the great cardiac vein, the posterior vein of the left ventricle, the oblique vein of the left atrium, and the right marginal vein) except anterior cardiac and venae Cordis minimis (which open directly into the right atrium) drain into the coronary sinus which opens into the right atrium.Educational point:Ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm# Any of the three aortic sinuses of Valsalva may become aneurysmal and rupture. The right and non-coronary cusps are most often affected; rupture of the non-coronary sinus aneurysm is nearly always into the right atrium and of the right coronary sinus into the right ventricle or atrium. Rupture usually occurs in early adulthood and may be precipitated by endocarditis. If sudden, it is accompanied by tearing chest pain, breathlessness, and congestive cardiac failure with a loud continuous murmur. The diagnosis and site of the rupture is confirmed angiographically prior to surg repair. Transcatheter closure has been reported.