Anatomy of heart?

Question

What is an auricle and is there any similarity between auricle and ventricle or atria because in my anatomy book many times the author refer to auricle as ventricle?

Answer 1

Auricles are small, pouch-like structures connected to the atria of the heart that increase the functional volume of the atria like an overflow reservoir. Ventricles, as you probably know, are the large chambers of the heart that push blood into either the pulmonary artery or the aorta during the cardiac cycle. In other words, auricles are not the same thing as atria or ventricles, but are a unique structure attached the atria that provide a different function than the main chambers of the heart (two atria, two ventricles). I hope that helps.