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Citation:
Deng F, Right atrial appendage. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 27 Mar 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-94402
The right atrial appendage, also known as the right auricule (TA) or auricle, is a trapezoidal pouch forming the anterosuperior part of the right atrium. Pacemaker/defibrillator leads are often placed at this site.
Gross anatomy
The right atrial appendage is delineated from the rest of the right atrium (the right atrial vestibule) by the crista terminalis. The structure wraps leftward and upward over the anterior surface of the aortic root 1. The proximal antral part and the distal saccular part are divided by the tenia sagittalis and the walls are lined by pectinate muscles 2.
Related pathology
The right atrial appendage may be the site of the following clinically important entities 1:
- 1. Li C, Gao B, Pan T et al. Morphologic Classification of the Right Auricule on 256-Slice Computed Tomography. Surg Radiol Anat. 2016;39(6):657-62. doi:10.1007/s00276-016-1785-8 - Pubmed
- 2. Zoppo F, Rizzo S, Corrado A et al. Morphology of Right Atrial Appendage for Permanent Atrial Pacing and Risk of Iatrogenic Perforation of the Aorta by Active Fixation Lead. Heart Rhythm. 2015;12(4):744-50. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2014.12.023 - Pubmed
- 3. Cresti A, García-Fernández M, Miracapillo G et al. Frequency and Significance of Right Atrial Appendage Thrombi in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. 2014;27(11):1200-7. doi:10.1016/j.echo.2014.08.008 - Pubmed
- 4. Aryal M, Hakim F, Giri S et al. Right Atrial Appendage Aneurysm: A Systematic Review. Echocardiography. 2014;31(4):534-9. doi:10.1111/echo.12510 - Pubmed
- 5. Roberts-Thomson K, Kistler P, Haqqani H et al. Focal Atrial Tachycardias Arising from the Right Atrial Appendage: Electrocardiographic and Electrophysiologic Characteristics and Radiofrequency Ablation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2007;18(4):367-72. doi:10.1111/j.1540-8167.2006.00754.x - Pubmed
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