aurículas

Aurículas is a term that can refer to several different things, depending on the context. In anatomy, particularly in cardiology, aurículas are the upper two chambers of the heart. The right auricle receives deoxygenated blood from the body, and the left auricle receives oxygenated blood from the lungs. These chambers contract to pump blood into the lower chambers, the ventricles.

In botany, auricula refers to a part of a plant, specifically a small ear-shaped appendage found at the base of some leaves or petals. The most common association is with the primrose family (Primulaceae), where the common name for some species, like Primula auricula, is "auricula" or "bear's ear" due to these characteristic structures.

The term can also appear in other less common contexts, such as in certain biological classifications or historical terminology. When encountering the word "aurícula," it is important to consider the surrounding information to determine its precise meaning. The etymology of the word derives from the Latin word for "ear," reflecting the ear-like shape often associated with its botanical and anatomical uses.