VOLUME ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF THE RIGHT AND LEFT ATRIUM

Abstract

Hearts were removed from dogs soon after death and the veins entering the atria were ligated. The A-V valves were sutured in the position of anatomical closure. The amt. of fluid needed to completely fill the atria without distending them was measured. Measured amts. of additional fluid were added and the atrial pressure recorded with optical manometers after each increment of fluid was added. The right atrial system as measured had an avg. initial filling volume twice that of the left atrial system. Volume elasticity curves plotted for the right and left atrial systems show that for equal volume increments the right atrial system is more distensible than the left.