- These are the thin-walled upper chambers of the heart;
- Separated by inter-atrial septum;
- Blood returns from the body the right atrium;
- Blood returns from the lungs to the left atrium;
- The atria provide approximately 20% of “kick” in assisting ventricular filling. [8, 9]
Certain atrial heart conditions will lessen cardiac output. Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped in one minute. Cardiac output depends on many factors including heart rate, preload, afterload and cardiac contractility. [10]
