What are the four chambers of the human heart called?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Illustration of a human heart cross-section showing four chambers-left and right atria and ventricles-with labeled major blood vessels. An inset highlights cardiac muscle tissue, showing myocytes and intercalated disks. — human cardiovascular system The human heart is both a pump and a muscle. Its four chambers move blood efficiently, while cardiac muscle cells joined by intercalated disks synchronize each contraction.

The human heart is divided into four chambers, which are separated by partitions known as septa. These chambers consist of two upper atria and two lower ventricles.12

The four chambers are:

Right Atrium: The right superior chamber, which receives deoxygenated blood from the body.12
Right Ventricle: The right inferior chamber, which pumps blood to the lungs via the pulmonary artery.1
Left Atrium: The left superior chamber, which receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary veins.12
Left Ventricle: The left inferior chamber, which pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body through the aorta.1

The atria function to receive blood and pass it into the ventricles, which then provide the force necessary to circulate blood throughout the body and to the lungs.12