Left Atrial Appendage Morphology: Part 1 Chicken Wing

The LAA derives from the primordial left atrium (LA), which is formed mainly by the adsorption of the primordial pulmonary veins and their branches. It is a finger-like projection from the main body of the LA. The junction is fairly well defined by a narrowing at the orifice of the appendage. There are considerable variations in its size, shape, and relationship with adjacent cardiac and extracardiac structures, which can be extremely relevant when interventional procedures are performed.