Abstract: Objective To explore the anatomic structure of pig cardiac blood vessel triangle and provide anatomic data for animal models. Methods Fifty intact pig hearts were dissected to measure the location, quantity, outer diameter and angle of left coronary artery and its branches, as well as great cardiac vein and its tributaries. The characteristics of cardiac blood vessel triangle were analysed. Results The cardiac blood vessel triangle could be divided into intersectant type, associated type and complex type. In the triangle, the included angle consisting of anterior interventricular branch and circumflex branch was 97.0±15.4 , whose corresponding side length was 46.24±15.30 mm; the included angle consisting of anterior interventricular branch and great cardiac vein was 29.7±10.3, whose corresponding side length was 23.50±8.02 mm ; the included angle consisting of circumflex branch and great cardiac vein was 54.9±16.4, whose corresponding side length was 36.30±13.94 mm. There could be anterior branches of left ventricle and opposite angle branches in the triangle. Conclusions Pig cardiac blood vessel triangle is similar to that of human in form, but distinctly different in size. The pig can be used as excellent animal models for interventional treatments of coronary heart disease and coronary sinus.

Key words: Pig, Cardiac blood vessel triangle, Anatomy, Animal models