Do Thebesian veins and arterioluminal vessels protect against myocardial edema occurrence?

Abstract

Thebesian veins, arteriosinusoidal and arterioluminal vessels drain blood from heart muscle into the chambers. Thebesian veins are reported common in atria and right ventricle, but scarce in the left ventricle. Since the left ventricle may be less prone to edema due to its intermittent cycle of perfusion, it is here proposed that Thebesian veins prevent myocardial edema. This is in concordance with reports that Thebesian veins are common at the ventricle apex and at papillary muscles base, regions prone to edema due to distance to the coronary sinus. Thebesian veins can act as local reducers of venous hydrostatic pressure that correct small differences in fluid filtration and maintain contractility. By analogy, arterioluminal and arteriosinusoidal vessels might act as regulators of local arteriolar pressure. All these vessels reduce capillary fluid filtration in otherwise healthy tissue surrounding ischemic lesions in coronary patients and other situations that lead to edema.