The chambers of the heart consist of the two atria and the two ventricles.

  • The atria are separated from the ventricles by the coronary sulcus (atrioventricular sulcus) externally
  • The two ventricles are separated from each other by the interventricular sulci (anterior and posterior)
  • The wall of the left ventricle is much thicker than the right — up to 3 times more — 10-12mm vs 3-4mm
Figure 1. Comparison of ventricular wall thickness (Credit: OpenStax, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Right atrium

  • The right atrium receives blood from two large veins, Inferior and Superior vena cava
  • The blood flowing into the right atrium is considered as deoxygenated blood (venous blood)
  • During the diastolic phase, blood entering from the right atrium into the right ventricle via the atrioventricular orifice — the Tricuspid valve

Landmarks

  • The valve of the inferior vena cava (Eustachian valve)
  • The valve of the coronary sinus (Thebasian valve)
  • Tendon of Todaro (the joining point of the two

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