With etymological origin in the Latin word atrium, atrium is a concept that can be used to name the uncovered sector found at the entrance of certain buildings.
The atrium, in this sense, is a kind of patio with porches around it. In the ancient Roman temples, all people could access the atrium, while only the faithful were allowed inside the building.
Some temples used the atrium as a cemetery. The atriums could also help to mark a delimitation of the sacred space, separating it from the rest of the surface.
Atrium can be used as a synonym for hallway (a covered section that allows entry to a home, being located next to the door).
In the old Roman houses we have to expose that there was what was known as atrium, which was the first patio that existed just after the hall. It so happened that in that place was where the cistern that was in charge of collecting the rainwater was had and that it was called impluvio.
Within art and architecture, in particular, we can highlight that the atriums become essential elements of many constructions. Specifically, in Spain they became fundamental spaces in Castilian Romanesque churches. A good example of this are those that have the Church of San Esteban de Segovia or the Church of San Lorenzo, also in the Segovian city.
And it is that in those temples the atrium was valued as an area in which to bring together what were the open councils.
However, there are many examples of temples equipped with these atriums, such as the Church of San Miguel in San Esteban de Gormaz, the Church of San Vicente in the city of Ávila, the Church of San Miguel in Cuéllar or the Cathedral. of Jaca.
Worldwide, the atriums of buildings such as St Mary de Yatton in England, the Cathedral of Tuy, that of the Glory of Santiago de Compostela…
We cannot ignore either that “Atrio” is what the Art History magazine that belongs to the Pablo de Olavide University of Seville is called.
In the field of medicine, the idea of atrium may appear as a synonym for atrium. The atria are two chambers in the upper part of the heart, above the ventricles.
To the right atrium reaches the blood carbooxigenada having passed through the body, it goes to the heart by the vena cava. The tricuspid valve allows blood to pass into the right ventricle and then through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery. The blood is then oxygenated in the lungs and returns to the heart thanks to the pulmonary veins.
The left atrium, therefore, reaches the already oxygenated blood that comes from the lungs. This atrium, through the mitral valve, pushes blood to the left ventricle, which carries it to the rest of the body via the aorta artery.
