GED Science Practice 2025 – The All-in-One Guide to Master Your Exam!

An auricle refers specifically to one of the upper chambers of the heart, known for receiving blood from the veins. The left auricle receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via the pulmonary veins, while the right auricle receives deoxygenated blood from the body through the superior and inferior vena cavae. This anatomical structure plays a crucial role in the circulatory system, aiding in the efficient flow of blood into the ventricles, which are the lower chambers of the heart that pump blood to the lungs and the rest of the body.

The other options don't pertain to the definition of an auricle. The joining of atomic nuclei describes nuclear fusion, which is unrelated to the functionality of the heart. The mention of "minor planets" refers to asteroids, particularly those located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, which have a completely different context. Lastly, the term for the whole mass of gases surrounding a planet generally refers to an atmosphere, which again strays from the function of the auricle in the heart. Thus, the correct response concerning the auricle's role in anatomy is indeed that it is an upper chamber of the heart that receives blood from the veins.