great cardiac vein, one of the five tributaries of the coronary sinus, beginning at the apex of the heart and ascending along the anterior interventricular sulcus to the base of the ventricles. It then curves left in the coronary sulcus, reaches the back of the heart, and opens into the left part of the coronary sinus. It receives various tributaries from the left atrium. The great cardiac vein drains the blood through its tributaries from the capillaries of the myocardium. Also called vena cordis magna. Compare middle cardiac vein, small cardiac vein.
