An atrium is a chamber of the heart.
Auricle is a term that can be used in different areas. In the field of anatomy , the cavity that exists in the heart, where blood comes from the blood vessels, is called the atrium.
Before moving forward with the meaning of the term, it is important to know its etymological origin. In this case, we can say that it is a word that derives from Latin. Specifically, it comes from auricula, which can be translated as "small ear" and is made up of two clearly differentiated parts:
- The noun auris , which is synonymous with "ear" .
- The suffix -cula , which is used as a diminutive.
Precisely if we take into account its etymological origin we can say that these cavities of the heart are called that because they have the appearance of an ear.
Characteristics of the atria
Also known as atria , the atria in the human heart are two cavities that are located in the upper sector of the organ, above the ventricles .
The carboxygenated blood, after traveling through the body, enters the right atrium of the heart through the vena cava. Through the tricuspid valve, blood passes from the right atrium to the right ventricle and then, through the pulmonary valve, to the so-called pulmonary artery. In this step, the lungs oxygenate the blood and the fluid, through the pulmonary veins, returns to the heart.
The oxygenated blood then enters the left atrium and, via the mitral valve, passes to the left ventricle. Finally, the aorta artery is responsible for carrying blood to the rest of the body .
Various pathologies can affect the atria.
Diseases and conditions
Within the set of diseases, pathologies, conditions or health problems of all kinds that can affect the atria is what is called atrial fibrillation . It is a very common chronic arrhythmia that is characterized by being composed of disorganized atrial beats.
This situation is dangerous as it increases the risk of suffering a stroke. It must also be taken into account that those who are most likely to suffer from this fibrillation are people with these characteristics:
- They have problems with their weight, either because they are overweight or obese.
- They suffer from type 2 diabetes.
- They have high blood pressure.
- Those with health problems related to the thyroid also have risks.
- Those who have some type of heart disease or those who have some injury to the heart valves are more likely to suffer from it.
Atria in other species
It should be noted that the number of atria in the heart depends on the species .
Mollusks have been found, for example, that have four atria, double the number in the human heart. Therefore, it cannot be said that the heart, at a general level, has an X number of atria, since the data is directly linked to the species.
The notion in botany
For botany , the auricle is the extension of the lower region of the leaf blade , the widest part of the leaves.
It is a foliaceous type lobe, which is located next to the petiole.