What is the difference between an atrium and a ventricle?

Answer 1

Each side of the heart has two compartments or chambers. The top one, called an atrium, collects blood from the veins that are connected to it. Veins are the major blood vessels that deliver blood to the heart. The bottom chamber is larger and is called a ventricle. Ventricles use the squeezing action of powerful muscles to pump blood out of the ventricles and into the arteries connected above them. Arteries are the major blood vessels that take blood away form the heart.

• The ventricles are more muscular than the atria.
• The ventricles are larger than the atria.
• The ventricles have thinner muscle tissue.
• The ventricles are rougher to the touch than the atria.
• The ventricles are below the atria.
• The ventricles pump blood to the body; the atria pump blood to the ventricles.
• The ventricular walls are thicker than the atrial walls.