Left atrial appendage
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| Left atrial appendage | |
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| Heart seen from above. (Left auricula labeled at bottom left.) | |
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| Section of the heart showing the ventricular septum. (Left auricula labeled at upper right.) | |
| Latin | auricula sinistra |
| Gray's | subject #138 533 |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | a_73/12169673 |
The left atrial appendage (LAA) (left auricular appendix, left auricula, left auricle) [1] is a conical muscular pouch connected to the left atrium of the heart.
It has a distinct embryologic origin.[2]
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[edit] Anatomy
It is somewhat constricted at its junction with the principal cavity; it is longer, narrower, and more curved than the right atrial appendage, and its margins are more deeply indented.
It is directed forward and toward the right and overlaps the root of the pulmonary artery.
[edit] Terminology
In older texts, the term "left auricle" was often used to describe the structure now known as the left atrium.
[edit] Clinical significance
In atrial fibrillation, thromboemboli are thought to arise from the left atrial appendage, which may lead to ischaemic damage to the brain, kidneys, or other organs supplied by the systemic circulation.[3] Elimination of the structure has been proposed.[4]
It can serve as an approach for mitral valve surgery.[5]
[edit] Function
Functions as a reservoir for the left atrium.
[edit] References
- ^ Akdeniz B, Badak O, Bariş N, et al (March 2006). "Left atrial appendage-flow velocity predicts cardioversion success in atrial fibrillation". Tohoku J. Exp. Med. 208 (3): 243–50. PMID 16498232.
- ^ Donal E, Yamada H, Leclercq C, Herpin D (September 2005). "The left atrial appendage, a small, blind-ended structure: a review of its echocardiographic evaluation and its clinical role". Chest 128 (3): 1853–62. doi:. PMID 16162795.
- ^ Parekh A, Jaladi R, Sharma S, Van Decker WA, Ezekowitz MD (September 2006). "Images in cardiovascular medicine. The case of a disappearing left atrial appendage thrombus: direct visualization of left atrial thrombus migration, captured by echocardiography, in a patient with atrial fibrillation, resulting in a stroke". Circulation 114 (13): e513–4. doi:. PMID 17000914.
- ^ Stöllberger C, Schneider B, Finsterer J (December 2003). "Elimination of the left atrial appendage to prevent stroke or embolism? Anatomic, physiologic, and pathophysiologic considerations". Chest 124 (6): 2356–62. PMID 14665520.
- ^ Guhathakurta S, Kurian VM, Manmohan, Cherian KM (2004). "Mitral valve reoperation through the left atrial appendage in a patient with mesocardia". Tex Heart Inst J 31 (3): 316–8. PMID 15562857.
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This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
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