Word parts
What it means
The heart has two atria. The right atrium receives oxygen-poor blood from the body through the superior vena cavasuh-PEER-ee-er VEE-nuh KAY-vuhThe large vein that carries blood from the head, neck, arms and upper chest back to the right atrium of the heart.superior uppervena veincava hollowFull entry and inferior vena cavain-FEER-ee-er VEE-nuh KAY-vuhThe large vein that carries blood from the lower body back to the right atrium of the heart.inferior lowervena veincava hollowFull entry . The left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs. Each atrium then pushes blood down into the ventricleVEN-trih-kulOne of the two lower chambers of the heart, or one of the fluid-filled spaces inside the brain.Full entry below it. The heart's natural pacemaker, the SA node, sits in the wall of the right atrium.
For the nurse
When the atria quiver instead of beating (atrial fibrillationAY-tree-ul fib-rih-LAY-shunAn irregular heart rhythm in which the upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating in an organized way.atri/o atrium (upper heart chamber)fibrill/o small fibers, quivering-ation processFull entry ), blood can pool and form clots, which is why many of these clients take an anticoagulant.
At a glance
| Spanish | aurícula |
|---|---|
| Also written | atria |
Related terms
atrial fibrillation
An irregular heart rhythm in which the upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating in an organized way.
ventricle
One of the two lower chambers of the heart, or one of the fluid-filled spaces inside the brain.
septum
A wall of tissue that divides two spaces or cavities, such as the two sides of the heart or nose.
mitral valve
The heart valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
AV node
Atrioventricular node: a small group of cells between the upper and lower chambers of the heart that passes on the heartbeat signal.