Left ventricle
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2008-06-22T18:13:24Z
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robot Adding: [[zh:左心室]]
{{Infobox Anatomy |
Name = Left ventricle |
Latin = ventriculus sinister cordis |
GraySubject = 138 |
GrayPage = 534 |
Image = Diagram of the human heart (cropped).svg |
Caption = The heart, with cutaways, as viewed from the left side.|
Image2 = Gray496.png |
Caption2 = Left ventricle at lower left, cutaway shows some internal cavity detail. |
System = |
Artery = [[anterior interventricular branch of left coronary artery]] |
Vein = [[posterior vein of the left ventricle]] |
Precursor = [[primitive ventricle]], [[bulbus cordis]] |
MeshName = Left+Ventricle |
MeshNumber = A07.541.560 |
DorlandsPre = v_06 |
DorlandsSuf = 12853441 |
}}
The '''left ventricle''' is one of four [[heart chamber|chambers]] (two [[atrium (anatomy)|atria]] and two [[Ventricle (heart)|ventricle]]s) in the [[human]] [[heart]]. It receives [[oxygen]]ated [[blood]] from the [[left atrium]] via the [[mitral valve]], and pumps it into the [[aorta]] via the [[aortic valve]].
==Shape==
The left ventricle is longer and more conical in shape than the right, and on transverse section its concavity presents an oval or nearly circular outline. It forms a small part of the [[sternocostal surface]] and a considerable part of the diaphragmatic surface of the heart; it also forms the apex of the heart. The left ventricle is thicker and more muscular than the right ventricle because it pumps blood at a higher pressure.
==Development==
By teenage and adult ages, its walls have thickened to three to six times greater than that of the [[right ventricle]]. This reflects the typical five times greater pressure workload this chamber performs while accepting blood returning from the lungs veins at ~80mmHg pressure (equivalent to around 11 kPa) and pushing it forward to the typical ~120mmHg pressure (around 16.3 kPa) in the aorta during each heartbeat. (The pressures stated are resting values and stated as relative to surrounding atmospheric which is the typical "0" reference pressure used in medicine.)
==Function==
For excellence of health, the left ventricular muscle must:
* (a) relax very rapidly after each contraction so as to fill rapidly with oxygenated blood flowing from the lung veins, i.e. [[diastole|diastolic]] relaxation and filling.
* (b) contract rapidly and forcibly to force the majority of this blood into the aorta, overcoming the much higher aortic pressure and the extra pressure required to stretch the aorta and other major arteries enough to expand and make room for the sudden increase in blood volume, i.e. [[Systole (medicine)|systolic]] contraction and ejection.
* (c) be able to rapidly increase or decrease its pumping capacity under nervous system control.
==Pumping volume==
Typical healthy adult heart pumping volume is ~5 liters/min, resting. Maximum capacity pumping volume extends from ~25 liters/min for non-athletes to as high as ~45 liters/min for Olympic level athletes.
==Additional images==
<gallery>
Image:Gray490.png|Front view of heart and lungs.
Image:Gray556.png|Base and diaphragmatic surface of heart.
Image:Heart left atrial appendage tee view.jpg|Sectional view of left atrium and left ventricle.
</gallery>
==External links==
* [http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/Labs/Anatomy_&_Physiology/A&P203/Circulatory_System/Human_Heart/heart_L_flash_P4043323lbd.JPG Photo of dissection at uc.edu]
{{Heart}}
[[Category:Cardiac anatomy]]
[[ar:بطين أيسر]]
[[dv:ވާތު ވެންޓްރިކަލް]]
[[es:Ventrículo izquierdo]]
[[it:Ventricolo sinistro]]
[[pt:Ventrículo esquerdo]]
[[ta:இடது வெண்ட்டிரிக்கிள்]]
[[zh:左心室]]