What it means
The root in words about the heart's upper chambers. Atrial fibrillation is quivering of the atria, the atrioventricular (AV) node passes the signal from the atria to the ventricles, and an atrial septal defect is a hole in the wall between the two atria.
At a glance
| Also written | atrio- |
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Related terms
atrial fibrillation
An irregular heart rhythm in which the upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating in an organized way.
cardi/o
A word part that means heart.
ventricle
One of the two lower chambers of the heart, or one of the fluid-filled spaces inside the brain.
atrial septal defect
A hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart.