atrial auricle
- noun
- /ˈeɪtriəl ˈɔrɪkəl/
- Specialized
:
aurícula auricular
- Each atrial auricle collects blood before it enters the ventricles.
Examples
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Each heart has an atrial auricle that helps increase the capacity of the atrium.
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The surgeon carefully examined the atrial auricle for signs of abnormal growth.
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Blood clots can sometimes form in the left atrial auricle of patients with atrial fibrillation.
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The atrial auricle plays a crucial role in heart function.
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Each heart has an atrial auricle that helps increase the capacity of the atrium.
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The surgeon carefully examined the atrial auricle for signs of abnormal growth.
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Blood clots can sometimes form in the left atrial auricle of patients with atrial fibrillation.
Synonyms
1
8.9
A small pouch on the upper front part of the heart that helps hold extra blood
A small ear-shaped pouch on the upper chamber of the heart
A small ear-shaped pouch on the upper front part of each heart chamber
A small pouch that sticks out from the front of a heart's upper chamber
A small pouch that sticks out from the upper front part of a heart chamber called an atrium
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'atrial' specifies location (relating to the atrium) and 'auricle' denotes an appendage or ear-shaped pouch, so the phrase refers to the atrium's pouch. Although the term is technical and low-frequency, a learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.
Etymology
Atrial auricle comes from the idea of a 'little ear' on the heart: atrial shows it is on the atrium, the upper chamber, and auricle means 'little ear'. So the name helps you picture a small, ear-shaped pouch sticking out of the atrium, which is what the term means today.