The right atrium is the receiving chamber for deoxygenated blood returning from the body. It forms the right border of the heart and has a smooth posterior part (sinus venarum) and a ridged anterior part lined with pectinate muscles, separated by the crista terminalis. It houses the sinoatrial node, the heart's natural pacemaker.
| Location | Right side of the heart, forming the right heart border on a frontal chest X-ray; lies to the right of and slightly in front of the left atrium. |
|---|---|
| Parts |
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| Nerve Supply | Cardiac plexus; Vagus nerves (parasympathetic, slows rate); Sympathetic cardiac nerves from cervical and upper thoracic (T1-T4) ganglia (raise rate and force) |
| Blood Supply | Right coronary artery; Sinoatrial nodal artery |
| Venous drainage |
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| Lymphatic drainage |
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Collects venous blood from the superior and inferior venae cavae and the coronary sinus and passes it through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. Atrial contraction tops up ventricular filling at the end of diastole.
Right atrial pressure (central venous pressure) can be estimated at the bedside from the height of the jugular venous pulse. The right atrium enlarges with tricuspid disease, pulmonary hypertension and atrial septal defects. It is the chamber entered first by central lines and pacing leads.
A rapid re-entrant rhythm that usually circulates around the tricuspid valve ring in the right atrium. It is commonly cured by catheter ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus.
Dilation of the chamber from pressure or volume overload, such as pulmonary hypertension or tricuspid regurgitation. It may show as tall P waves on the ECG.
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