Final answer:
The coronary arteries sprout from the ascending aorta, with the left coronary artery arising from the left posterior aortic sinus and the right coronary artery from the anterior aortic sinus. Coronary veins parallel the arteries and drain into the coronary sinus, which empties into the right atrium.
Step-by-step explanation:
The coronary veins and arteries originate from specific areas in the heart. The paired coronary arteries, which consist of the right and left coronary arteries, branch off from the ascending aorta. Specifically, they arise from two of the three aortic sinuses located just superior to the aortic semilunar valve. The left coronary artery emerges from the left posterior aortic sinus while the right coronary artery originates from the anterior aortic sinus. Conversely, the coronary veins which include the great cardiac vein and its branches, generally parallel the surface of the large arteries and drain deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle, ultimately leading to the coronary sinus that empties into the right atrium.