What happens when the left atrium is full?
154428
I'm not sure if this is enough info but...\nWhen the Left Atrium is full of blood, the heart muscle in the Left Ventricle relaxes so the muscles attached to the Mitral Valve open.
1003119
look at this 3D pic then read\n\nhttp://library.thinkquest.org/C003758/rotate.htm\n\nIn the human body, the heart is normally situated slightly to the left of the middle of the thorax, underneath the sternum (breastbone). The heart is usually felt to be on the left side because the left heart (the left part of the heart) is stronger (it pumps the blood out). The heart is enclosed by a sac known as the pericardium and is surrounded by the lungs.Betwen the pericardium and the heart there is a serous fluid to reduce friction during heart contractions. The apex is the blunt point at the base of the heart. A stethoscope can be placed directly over the apex and count the beats. In normal adults, its mass is 250-350 g (8-11 oz), but extremely diseased hearts can be up to 1000 g (2 lb) in mass. It consists of four chambers, the two upper atria (singular: atrium ) and the two lower ventricles. On the right is a picture of a fresh human heart which was just removed from a 64 year old British gentleman. The mass for a thin white male is usually 270-300 grams (9-11 ounces) with little fat.\n\nA septum divides the right atrium and ventricle from the left atrium and ventricle, preventing blood from passing between them. Valves between the atria and ventricles (atrioventricular valves) maintain coordinated unidirectional flow of blood from the atria to the ventricles. The ventricular systole consists of the contraction of the ventricles and flow of blood into the circulatory system. Again, once all the blood empties from the ventricles, the pulmonary and aortic semilunar valves close. Finally complete cardiac diastole involves relaxation of the atria and ventricles in preparation for refilling with circulating blood.\n\nThe function of the right side of the heart (see right heart) is to collect deoxygenated blood from the body and pump it into the lungs (pulmonary circulation)so that carbon dioxide can be dropped off and oxygen picked up. This happens through a process called diffusion. The left side (see left heart) collects oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it out to the body (systemic circulation). On both sides, the lower ventricles are thicker than the upper atria.\nOxygen-depleted or deoxygenated blood from the body enters the right atrium through two great veins, the superior vena cava which drains the upper part of the body and the inferior vena cava that drains the lower part which drains the portal cyrculation too full with nutrients to nourish the body. The blood then passes through the tricuspid valve to the right ventricle. The right ventricle pumps the deoxygenated blood to the lungs, through the pulmonary artery. In the lungs gaseous exchange takes places and the blood releases carbon dioxide into the lung cavity and picks up oxygen which is called external respiration. The oxygenated blood then flows through pulmonary veins to the left atrium. From the left atrium this newly oxygenated blood passes through the mitral valve (also called the bicuspid valve) to enter the left ventricle. The left ventricle then pumps the blood through the aorta to the entire body. Even the lungs take some of the blood supply from the aorta via bronchial arteries.\n\nThe left ventricle is much more muscular, which is 1.3 - 1.5 cm (.5-.6 in) thick, than the right, 0.3 - 0.5 cm ( .1-.2 in) thick, as it has to pump blood around the entire body, which involves exerting a considerable force to overcome the vascular pressure. As the right ventricle needs to pump blood only to the lungs, it requires less muscle.\n\nEven though the ventricles lie below the atria, the two vessels through which the blood exits the heart (the pulmonary artery and the aorta) leave the heart at its top side.\n\nThe contractile nature of the heart is due to the presence of cardiac muscle in its wall which can work continuously without fatigue. The heart wall is made of three distinct layers. The first is the outer epicardium which is composed of a layer of flattened epi
458027
without a pacemaker, such as an intermittent, the heart will continue to go into constant dysrythmia or atrial, ventricular, or sinus fibrillation. this makes it to where the hearts effectiveness(cardiac output) is decreased to nearly if not full asystole(without constriction) and blood will not flow through the body providing oxygen to all the tissues, including "the brain" and you will die due to ischemia- lack of oxygen. the pacemaker "paces" the heart keeping it under control like a kid on Ritalin
621795
You could have a mitral valve prolapse which is common and harmless. They can cause palpitations. Sometimes, a full meal causes your heart to work a little harder to digest which will cause an increase in pulse and more palpitations.
263076
The heart has a natural pacemaker. It operates with its own electrical impulses. If excess current is introduced to the body, it will speed up the heart, a-fib will result and cardiac arrest...because the heart will get mixed signal and cannot keep up the pace of the heart..the blood will back up in the atrium of the heart and not enough blood will be pumped to the body...the electrical shock will destroy the heart muscle..reulting in cardiac arrest before the brain is affected...death would occur.
155452
Loosing 30% of your heart means, Decrease in Functional activity of heart by 30%.\n\nThe first criteria is EJECTION FRACTION, the pumping ability of your heart.\n\nif that decreases by 30% you have got a wean heart.
978667
I have this, my doctor told me this was normal.  It's just the chest compensating for the space the heart takes up.  You must be very thin, as this was the case with me.  If you put on muscle weight it will even out.  Don't worry about it though, it time it will become less noticable.
925637
You have an artery on both sides and a vein on the other (jugular) same as all parts of your body. One takes blood to the heart (vein) one back into the body full of oxygen (artery)
541279
R. atrium to r. ventricle, into the pulmonary artery, which carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Once blood receives oxygen in the lungs, it returns to the heart via the pulmonary veins. Here it is emptied into the left atrium, then on to the left ventricle, which pumps the oxygenated blood into the aorta and thence out into the systemic circulation.
88871
The heart is divided into the upper right atria and upper left atria (plural atrium), and the lower right and left ventricles. A septum divides them. Blood from the veins carries oxygen depleted blood, fewer red blood cells, to the heart and the arteries carry oxygen enriched blood to the body. It is the hearts job, a poweful muscle, to pump blood through the body.\n\nFor more imformation please click on the blue link below in the sources box.
489834
Left ventricle because it has to provide force to push blood through entire body.
171531
The extent of opening of the mitral leaflets in diastole and their degree of closure during systole are mediated either indirectly or directly through the force of left ventricular systole. Therefore measures of incomplete opening or incomplete closure both reflect left ventricular systolic function
467229
In the human body, the heart is normally situated slightly to the left of the middle of the thorax, underneath the sternum (breastbone). It is enclosed by a sac known as the pericardium and is surrounded by the lungs. The apex is the blunt point at the base of the heart. A stethoscope can be placed directly over the apex and count the beats. In normal adults, its mass is 250-350 g, but extremely diseased hearts can be up to 1000 g in mass. It consists of four chambers, the two upper atria (singular: atrium) and the two lower ventricles.\n\nA septum divides the right atrium and ventricle from the left atrium and ventricle, preventing blood from passing between them. Valves between the atria and ventricles (atrioventricular valves) maintain coordinated unidirectional flow of blood from the atria to the ventricles.The ventricular systole consists of the contraction of the ventricles and flow of blood into the circulatory system. Again, once all the blood empties from the ventricles, the pulmonary and aortic semilunar valves close. Finally complete cardiac diastole involves relaxation of the atria and ventricles in preparation for refilling with circulating blood.\n\nThe function of the right side of the heart (see right heart) is to collect deoxygenated blood from the body and pump it into the lungs so that carbon dioxide can be dropped off and oxygen picked up. This happens through a process called diffusion. The left side (see left heart) collects oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it out to the body. On both sides, the lower ventricles are thicker than the upper atria.\n\nOxygen-depleted or deoxygenated blood from the body enters the right atrium through two great veins, the superior vena cava which drains the upper part of the body and the inferior vena cava that drains the lower part. The blood then passes through the tricuspid valve to the right ventricle. The right ventricle pumps the deoxygenated blood to the lungs, through the pulmonary artery. In the lungs gaseous exchange takes places and the blood releases carbon dioxide into the lung cavity and picks up oxygen. The oxygenated blood then flows through pulmonary veins to the left atrium. From the left atrium this newly oxygenated blood passes through the mitral valve (also called the bicuspid valve) to enter the left ventricle. The left ventricle then pumps the blood through the aorta to the entire body. Even the lungs take some of the blood supply from the aorta via bronchial arteries.\n\nThe left ventricle is much more muscular (1.3 - 1.5 cm thick) than the right (0.3 - 0.5 cm thick) as it has to pump blood around the entire body, which involves exerting a considerable force to overcome the vascular pressure. As the right ventricle needs to pump blood only to the lungs, it requires less muscle.\n\nEven though the ventricles lie below the atria, the two vessels through which the blood exits the heart (the pulmonary artery and the aorta) leave the heart at its top side.\n\nThe contractile nature of the heart is due to the presence of cardiac muscle in its wall which can work continuously without fatigue. The heart wall is made of three distinct layers. The first is the outer epicardium which is composed of a layer of flattened epithelial cells and connective tissue. Beneath this is a much thicker myocardium made up of cardiac muscle. The endocardium is a further layer of flattened epithelial cells and connective tissue which lines the chambers of the heart.\n\nThe blood supply to the heart itself is supplied by the left and right coronary arteries, which branch off from the aorta.
593781
If your doctor actually said that the walls of your heart were thickening,he is talking about heart enlargement,maybe to the point that the heart,a muscle,is having troubles opening and closing(also called pumping) and pushing  blood through it's four chambers to circulate oxygen-enriched blood throughout the body. This is commonly referred to as heart failure.If your doctor said there was thickening in the arteries,this means that the major arteries are clogging up with fatty placque which also impedes the circulation of the blood throughout the body;it can also lead to a heart attack or stroke.Go to the website for The American Heart Association and the site mywebmd.com for more clarification.
1074878
In the human anatomy, we have 2 atria and 2 ventricles.  The ventricle structure works like a bladder in a water pump to create the pressure to push the blood out into the circulatory system.  After the ventricle contracts and is empty, a supply of blood is needed to refill for the next contraction.  Think of the atrium as a bucket ready to dump into the ventricle.  It allows fast refill at low pressure.
381619
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is the most common problem, where the heart no longer can "squeeze" blood out of the left ventricle with the same efficiency as a healthy heart.  This leads to weaker blood flow to the end organs, and back up of blood flow through the heart, and subsequently, the lungs (causing pulmonary edema), the liver, and the extremities (causing peripheral edema).  \n\nPeople with diseased left ventricles are also at higher risk of:\n\n1. Rupture of the papillary muscles (which are attached to the leaflets of the mitral valve by the cordae tendinae), leading to mitral valve prolapse (and regurgitation).  \n\n2. Ventricular arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities.\n\n3. In worst case scenarios, the myocardial wall may rupture, leading to cardiac tamponade, and if untreated, death.
284673
blocage in the arteries straining the heart and creating tears when there is lack of blood in the ventricles. if is not clear enough check out www.howstuffworks.com