
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Cor triatriatum overview
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Cor triatriatum is a rare congenital heart defect where a fibromuscular septum subdivides the left atrium into two chambers. Associated cardiovascular malformations are common and include atrial septal defect,patent ductus arteriosus and common atrioventricular canal. The proximal or accessory chamber lies posteriorly, and usually receives blood from each of the pulmonary veins. The distal or true left atrial chamber lies anterior, connects to the left atrial appendage,empties into the left ventricle through the mitral valve, and lodges true atrial septum containing fossa ovalis . The two atrial chambers communicate through an opening in the membrane which divides the two chambers. This opening may be single and stenotic, fenestrated, and either small or large. [1]
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editors-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [2]; Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]; Keri Shafer, M.D. [4]; Assistant Editor(s)-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S. [5]
