Bored by anatomy?
Try this.

• Learn faster
  and with more fun
• Ace your next exam
  with ease
• Get expert support
  from anatomy nerds

Trusted by 2,000,000+
students & professionals

Start Now

The four chambers of the heart and their functions

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update: Oct 25th, 2022

Learn anatomy faster and
remember everything you learn

Start Now

Introduction to the Chambers of the Heart:

The heart is made up of four chambers.

heart chambers

1

2

• The superior chambers consist of the right atrium and left atrium (plural, atria: L., corridor). which lie primarily on the posterior side of the heart. [Interior view/Posterior view]

Have you been making any of the common anatomy learning mistakes? Find out!

The right and left atrium of the heart.

1

2

3

4

5

6

• Extending anteriorly from each thin-walled atrium is a small, ear shaped appendage called an auricle (l., auricula, little ear) that expands the volume of the chamber. Blood drains into the atria from the pulmonary and systemic circulatory systems.

The auricles of the heart.

1

2

• Making up the lower chambers are the right ventricle and left ventricle (L., ventriculus, a little belly), which are much larger than the atria. [Anterior view/Interior view/Posterior view]

The left and right ventricle.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

• The right ventricle pumps blood through the pulmonary circulatory system and the thicker-walled left ventricle pumps blood through the long systemic circulatory system.

• Internally, the two ventricles are separated by a thick myocardial wall called the interventricular septum.

The interventricular septum.

1

2

• On the anterior surface of the heart. the interventricular septum is marked by a shallow diagonal groove known as the anterior interventricular sulcus (or groove), which is occupied by the anterior interventricular artery, great cardiac vein, and adipose tissue.

The anterior interventricular sulcus.

1

2

• On the posterior surface of the heart, the ventricles are separated by the posterior interventricular sulcus (or groove), which contains the posterior interventricular artery, middle cardiac vein, and adipose tissue.

The posterior interventricular sulcus.

1

2

Test yourself:

Anterior view: [Show/Hide answers]

Test yourself image for the anterior view of the heart.

1

2

Interior view: [Show/Hide answers]

Test yourself image for the interior view of the heart.

1

2

Posterior view: [Show/Hide answers]

Test yourself image for the posterior view of the heart.

1

2