The limbus of the fossa ovalis (limbus fossae ovalis) is a muscular ridge that borders the fossa ovalis, an oval-shaped depression found in the interatrial septum, on the right atrium side.
The limbus fossae ovalis is best developed superiorly and to the sides of the fossa ovalis. It is deficient and not as evident in the inferior aspect, as seen in the accompanying image.
Several authors have described the limbus fossa ovalis as a part of the conduction system of the heart facilitating the distribution of the electrical stimulus from the sinuatrial (SA) node to the atrioventricular (AV) node and as part of Bachman’s bundle.
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The limbus fossae ovalis is known by the eponym “the ring or anulus of Vieussens”
Sources: 1. “The development of the limbus fossae ovalis in the human heart—a new septum” Christie, GA. J Anat. Jan 1963; 97: 45–54 2. “The Limbic Ledge: A Landmark for Transseptal Left Heart Catheterization” Bloomfield, DA and Sinclair-Smith BC. Circulation. 1965;31:103-107 3. “Cardiac Arrhythmia: Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Management” Podrid, PJ; Kowey, PR Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001 4. “Electrical Connections: The Precise Location and Preferential Conduction” Sakamoto, SI et al. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2005;16(10):1077-1086
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