Difference Between Atrium and Ventricle

The main difference between the atrium and the ventricle is that the atrium is part of the chamber of the heart called the atrium and the ventricle is the chamber of the heart.

atrium versus ventricle

The atrium is part of the atria, which is a chamber of the heart. On the other hand, the ventricle is itself a chamber of the heart. The atrium is present in each atrium while the ventricle is two in the heart. The atrium has an ear-like structure, on the other hand, the right ventricle looks triangular and the left ventricle looks conical in shape. The atria are appendages, while the ventricle is muscular. The ear helps the atria to retain a large amount of blood; on the other hand, the ventricle performs an important physiological function. On the other hand, disorder of the ear keeps the heart working; disorder of the ventricle disturbs the functioning of the heart.

Comparison chart

The atrium is the structure found in the atria. In the past, the atrium and the atrium were used for the upper chamber of the heart, and some people even use this terminology interchangeably. Actually, the atrium is the part of the structure of the atrium, the term atrium is used for the chambers of the heart that receive blood. There are two atria in the human body, and they are called the right atrium and the left atrium. The left atrium receives blood from the lungs and the right atrium receives blood from the venous circulation. The term atrial appendages is also used for the atrium. The auricle is the conical muscular bag that resembles the ear. Simply the atria are ear-like projections that arise from the atria. The auricles are named according to their shape due to their resemblance to a dog’s ear. In the human heart there are two atria. Each atrium arises from each side of the atria. The atria are attached to the inner surface of the outer walls of the atria. The atria increase the ability of the atria to retain blood, and this is the main purpose of the atria.

What is the ventricle?

The ventricle is the chamber of the heart that is located at the bottom of the heart in humans and is part of a double circulatory system. The ventricle receives blood from the atrium and sends it to the body and lungs. There are two ventricles in the heart, and they are called the right ventricle and the left ventricle based on their location in the body. The left ventricle is considered the largest and strongest chamber of the heart. The wall of the left ventricle is about half an inch thick and they are strong enough to push blood into the systemic circulation through the aortic valve. The right ventricle pushes blood into the lungs through the pulmonary valves. There are two terms that are used in relation to the ventricles, and these are interventricular and intraventricular. The term “interventricular” means between the ventricles and intraventricular means within a ventricle. The ventricle always generates a higher blood pressure relative to the other two chambers of the heart called the atria. The inner walls of the ventricle are covered by the trabeculae carneae which have two other types. Trabeculae carneae are not present in the conus arteriosus of the left ventricle.

The right ventricle and the left ventricle are the same size, and the upper front surface of the right ventricle is round and convex. The front surface of the right ventricle forms most of the sternocostal surface of the heart. The inferior surface of the right ventricle is flat. The left ventricle is longer than the right ventricle and is conical in shape relative to the right ventricle. The left ventricle constitutes the small part of the sternocostal surface. The right ventricle appears triangular and extends from the apex of the heart to the tricuspid valve. The walls of the right ventricle are thick at the apex of the heart and thin toward the atrium.

1. The atrium is the part of the heart chamber called the atrium, while the ventricle is the chamber of the heart.
2. There is a single auricle in each atrium; on the other hand, there are two ventricles in the heart.
3. The atria are ear-shaped, while the right ventricle is triangular and the left ventricle is conical.
4. The auricles are appendages; on the other hand, the ventricles are muscular in nature.
5. The atria increase the ability of the atria to hold blood, while the ventricles push blood out to the body and lungs.
6. The ear plays a supporting role in the heart; on the other hand, the ventricle plays one of the main roles in the heart.
7. On the other hand, the ear disorder does not alter the physiology of the heart to any great extent; disorders of the ventricle further disturb the physiology of the heart.

Final Thoughts

The main takeaway from the above discussion is that the atrium is part of the heart chamber called the atrium, and the ventricle is itself a heart chamber. Both play different roles in the normal physiology of the heart.