auricular appendage

Thân thiện

A diagram shows the auricular appendage of the human heart.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small, ear-shaped pouch projecting from the top front of each atrium of the heart: This term refers specifically to a muscular pouch in the heart. It is named for its resemblance to a dog's ear.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • During the surgery, the surgeon noted an enlarged left auricular appendage.
  • Thrombi can sometimes form within the auricular appendage, posing a risk of stroke.

Advanced Usage

• Medical Context: The term is used almost exclusively in medical, anatomical, and surgical contexts to describe this specific cardiac structure.
  • Echocardiography is used to assess the size and function of the auricular appendage.

Variants and Related Words

• Atrial appendage: A more modern and commonly used synonym in clinical practice.
  • The left atrial appendage is often the source of clots in patients with atrial fibrillation.
• Auricle (of the heart): An older, sometimes synonymous term, though "auricle" can also refer to the external part of the ear, which may cause confusion.

Synonyms

• Atrial appendage: The preferred contemporary term in cardiology.
• Auricle (cardiac): An anatomical synonym, though less precise.

Notes on Meaning

• This is a highly specialized anatomical term. It does not refer to the external ear (pinna), which is also sometimes called the "auricle." The "auricular appendage" is an internal heart structure.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a pouch projecting from the top front of each atrium of the heart

Từ đồng nghĩa

• auricula
• auricular appendix