The numerous and meticulously exposed findings are the very latest and of practical use for the cardiologist who is interested in new, morphologically-based diagnostics and the establishment of an exact anatomical basis for modern non-invasive therapy; for the radiologist who strives to obtain precise anatomical data, accurate and angiographical evaluations and diagnoses; for the cardiac surgeon, who strives, through precise and safe approaches in operations on the heart, to diminish surgical risks and increase the benefit of surgery to the patient. The review includes an great variety of new findings which relate to the greater (major) and smaller (minor) cardiac venous system and narrow a gap in the rather incomplete knowledge of the venous drainage of the human myocardium. A number of the results may help to achieve the success of the rather new technique of coronary sinus catheterization and reperfusion of the cardiac veins.

This work is not an anatomical atlas nor textbook (like that of McAlpine and Anderson) nor an angiographical atlas (like that of Vlodaver et al.); it is a short and comprehensive survey of the many variations of the intrinsic cardiac vessels. The reader's attention is focused on the numerous structural details and peculiarities of the human coronary arteries. The many unique features have been revealed by meticulous dissection and present an excellent documentation. All in all, this study represents an up-to-date review of morphology of the coronary arteries.