Atrium and ventricle

Question

I was trying to find the original meanings of "atrium" and "ventricle" before they were adopted by heart anatomy. So far I learned that atrium is a word in architecture. But it seems that "ventricle" isn't. What is the original meaning of a ventricle and why is it used together with "atrium" for heart structures?

user 66974 · Accepted Answer

The atrium, in the anatomy of the heart, is where blood first flows in and probably, by analogy, the term was used as it indicated the first main entrance room in an ancient Roman house.
Atrium:

The anatomical sense of "either of the upper cavities of the heart" first recorded 1870.

Ventricle appears to have an older usage in  as it refers more generally to a bodily cavity, but is mainly used to refer  to the heart anatomy.
Ventricle:

late 14c., "small chamber or cavity within a bodily organ," especially of the heart, from Latin ventriculus (in reference to the heart, ventriculus cordis), literally "little belly," diminutive of venter (genitive ventris) "belly"

(Etymonline)

BreWoodsy · Answer

Well, the word ventricle is derived from the Latin word ventriculus meaning "a digestive cavity (such as a gizzard or stomach)." Because of that, I doubt if you will find any other usage for the same word. But, here is some additional information from The Online Dictionary, the Cambridge Dictionary, and Merriam Webster.

Answered by BreWoodsy on June 13, 2021

Atrium and ventricle

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