[Segmental anatomic diagnosis in congenital cardiac anomalies. I. Anatomic criteria for the identification of the cardiac cavities (author's transl)].

Anatomical features are illustrated for the identification of the cardiac chambers. Essential and accessory morphological structures are recognized. The identification of the atrial cavities is based upon the anatomy of the free walls (crista terminalis, size and shape of the atrial appendages). On the contrary, the identification of the ventricles is founded on the septal morphology (trabecula septo-marginalis on the morphological right side, smooth basal septum on the morphological left side, presence or absence of septal insertions of the atrio-ventricular value apparatus). Finally, no essential feature can be applied to the identification of the great arteries.