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Immediately superior and slightly medial to the opening of the inferior vena cava on the posterior surface of the atrium is the opening of the _____________. This thin-walled vessel drains most of the coronary veins that return systemic blood from the heart. The

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Final answer:

The opening superior and medial to the inferior vena cava on the right atrium is for the coronary sinus, which drains deoxygenated blood from the coronary veins of the heart muscle into the right atrium.

Step-by-step explanation:

The opening immediately superior and slightly medial to the inferior vena cava on the posterior surface of the right atrium is the opening of the coronary sinus. The coronary sinus is a large, thin-walled vein that serves an important function in the systemic circulation by draining blood from the coronary veins. These veins collect deoxygenated blood from the myocardium or heart muscle and then return it to the right atrium through the coronary sinus. The coronary veins, including the great cardiac vein, middle cardiac vein, and small cardiac vein, parallel the surface arteries of the heart and drain into the coronary sinus

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