What are the two upper chambers of the heart called?

The two upper chambers of the heart are called the atria. The heart consists of four chambers: two atria and two ventricles. The atria are responsible for receiving blood returning to the heart — the right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body, while the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.

Understanding the anatomy of the heart is crucial for understanding how it functions. The atria help to pump blood into the ventricles, which are the lower chambers responsible for sending blood out of the heart to the lungs and the rest of the body. Each chamber plays a specific role in the circulatory system, and recognizing the function of the atria is essential for anyone studying emergency medical care or cardiovascular physiology.

The other terms mentioned, such as ventricles, septum, and auricles, refer to different parts of the heart or its anatomy but do not describe the upper chambers. The ventricles are the lower chambers of the heart, the septum is the wall that separates the right and left sides of the heart, and auricles are small pouch-like structures connected to the atria. Understanding these distinctions deepens knowledge about cardiac structure and function.