Ventricle (heart)

Ventricle (heart)

The ventricles are the two lower chambers of the heart in vertebrates. They are responsible for pumping blood out of the heart to the lungs and the rest of the body. The heart has two ventricles: the right ventricle and the left ventricle.

Structure

The ventricles are located in the lower part of the heart, beneath the atria. The right ventricle receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium and pumps it into the pulmonary artery towards the lungs. The left ventricle receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium and pumps it into the aorta to be distributed throughout the body.

The walls of the ventricles are thicker than those of the atria, with the left ventricle having the thickest wall due to the higher pressure required to pump blood through the systemic circulation.

Function

The primary function of the ventricles is to pump blood. The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs for oxygenation, while the left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. This process is part of the cardiac cycle, which includes the phases of systole and diastole.

Clinical significance

Ventricular function is crucial for maintaining adequate cardiac output. Conditions such as ventricular hypertrophy, ventricular fibrillation, and heart failure can significantly impact the function of the ventricles and overall heart health.

Images

Animation of the heart showing the ventricles.

Diagram of the internal structure of the heart, showing the ventricles.

Wiggers diagram illustrating the cardiac cycle.

Detailed Wiggers diagram showing the phases of the cardiac cycle.

Related pages

• Heart
• Atria
• Cardiac cycle
• Pulmonary circulation
• Systemic circulation

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  Internal structure of the heart

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  Wiggers Diagram

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  Wiggers Diagram