This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Internal surface (left atrium, anatomy)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The internal surface of the left atrium is notable for:

  • its generally smooth endocardial surface; this is the result of most of the left atrium originating embryologically from the pulmonary veins
  • the interatrial septum:
    • passes obliquely, posteriorly from right to left across the cavity of the chamber
    • often, a lunate depression is visible; this corresponds to the ostium secundum of the developing heart
  • the narrow aperture leading to the auricle; as with the right atrial auricle, musculi pectinati line its surface; however, the ridges are less well developed than in the right atrium
  • veins entering into the chamber:
    • pulmonary veins, typically two on each side entering in the superior part of the chamber; there are no valves at the intersection of each vein with the chamber
    • foramina venarum minimarum as in the right atrium
  • the atrioventricular orifice:
    • inferiorly and anteriorly within the chamber
    • smaller than the right atrioventricular orifice
    • associated with the mitral valve

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.