The human heart is formed of four distinct chambers. This is why we fall under the category of four-chambered animals along with carnivores and other mammals. The chambers of the heart are separated by the muscle septum. The atrium and ventricle are the different chambers of the heart separated by an interatrial and intraventricular septum.
Atrium vs Ventricle
The main difference between the atrium and ventricle is that they are the different sections of most advanced animals. Due to their location, they also differ in their blood supply into and out of the chamber. They also differ in size and types of values present in them.
Atrium refers to the upper two divisions of the heart. There are two atria in the human heart that are separated by the interatrial septum. The function of the atrium is to receive deoxygenated blood from the body that is passed on to the lungs for oxygenation and distribution to the body. It is smaller in size than the ventricles.
Ventricles refer to the lower two divisions of the heart. There are two ventricles in the human heart separated by the interventricular septum. The function of the ventricles is to pump blood to all parts of the body through the main artery called the dorsal aorta. It is bigger than the atria.
Comparison Table Between Atrium and Ventricle
| Parameters of Comparison | Atrium | Ventricle |
| Size | The atrium forms the smaller portion of the heart. | Ventricles form the larger portion of the heart. |
| Location | It is the upper half of the heart. | It is the lower half of the heart. |
| Walls | The walls of the atrium are thinner than the ventricles. | The walls of the ventricles are much thicker compared to the auricles. |
| Blood Pressure | It has lower blood pressure. | It has higher blood pressure. |
| Function | The main function of the atrium is to supply blood to the lungs. | The main function of the ventricles is to supply the rest of the body |
| Consists Of | It has the sinoatrial node and pacemaker cells. | It has the Purkinje fibres. |
What is Atrium?
Atrium is the singular word for auricles which refer to the upper half of the heart. These chambers of the human heart are separated by the interauricular or interatrial septum to form two auricles. The right auricle or atrium receives deoxygenated blood from two veins blood vessels, the inferior vena cava and superior vena cava. These are essentially veins. The left auricle receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary vein coming from the lungs.
It receives deoxygenated blood and sends it to the lungs for oxygenation through the pulmonary circulation. Since the heart and lungs are close to each other, the walls of the auricles are thin as they do not have to pump blood to large distances. This also makes the blood pressure in the auricles comparatively lower than the ventricles.
It also sends blood to the ventricles to be distributed throughout the body. The right ventricles open into the right ventricles through the tricuspid valve, and the left auricle opens into the left ventricle through the mitral valve. There are some specialized cells in the auricular region called the sinoatrial node and the pacemaker cells.
The sinoatrial node generates impulses that set a normal rhythm and rate of the heart. That is why it is also called the natural pacemaker of the heart.
What is Ventricle?
The ventricle is the singular for the ventricles that refers to the lower half of the heart. The lower divisions of the heart are separated by the interventricular septum. The left ventricle receives fresh blood from the auricles, and it pumps it to the rest of the body from the right ventricle through the aorta.
Oxygenated blood from the heart is transported to all parts of the body from the heart through various arteries and systems. Since the distance of blood flow is large from the heart to the lower portion of the body or the kings this the blood pressure in this chamber is high, and its walls are highly muscular and thick.
Because the ventricle uses a large amount of pressure to pump blood hence, we can feel our heartbeat slightly towards the left, where the pumping is the hardest. The right ventricle opens into the pulmonary artery through the semilunar valve, and the left ventricle opens into the aorta through the aortic valve.
Due to more function and power required, it is also bigger. It has special fibres called Purkinje fibres that conduct electrical impulses throughout the ventricles.
Main Differences Between Atrium and Ventricle
Conclusion
The proper functioning of each of the chambers of the heart is necessary for uniform blood circulation. Blockage in any of the draining or supplying channels may lead to a lack of blood supply to the heart itself, which may cause a heart attack.
The auricles and the ventricles together form the heart. They are separated by septums but connected through a small channel guarded by valves, as discussed earlier. Division of the heart into multiple chambers is an evolutionary adaptation for the division of labour in the heart. It simplifies the mode of circulation and supports the double circulatory system of humans.
References
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