The left atrial appendage (LAA) (or left auricular appendix, left auricula, left auricle) [1] is a conical muscular pouch connected to the left atrium of the heart.
Itvague is somewhat constricted at its junction with the principal cavity; it is longer, narrower, and more curved than the right atrial appendage, and its margins are more deeply indented.
Itvague is directed forward and toward the right and overlaps the root of the pulmonary artery.
Terminology
In older texts, the term "left auricle" was oftenweasel words used to describe the structure now known as the left atrium.
Clinical significance
In atrial fibrillation, thromboemboli are thoughtvague to arise from the left atrial appendage, which may{{weasel-inline)) lead to ischaemic damage to the brain, kidneys, or other organs supplied by the systemic circulation.[3] Elimination of the structure has been proposed.[4]
^ Guhathakurta S, Kurian VM, Manmohan, Cherian KM (2004). "Mitral valve reoperation through the left atrial appendage in a patient with mesocardia". Tex Heart Inst J31 (3): 316–8. PMID 15562857.
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.