Left Ventricle

The left ventricle ejects blood into the aortic arch to the body. Within the arch, the coronary arteries branch off first followed by three main arteries that branch to the brain (carotids) and the upper thorax (subclavian artery).

The chambers of the heart are the main drivers within an intricate pathway, delivering blood to the lungs for gas exchange and enriching the body’s cells with oxygen. The contracting and relaxing chambers facilitate varying pressure gradients that drive a resting cardiac output of five litres of blood per minute.

As the ventricles contract, the pressure in the ventricles overcomes the pressure of the aorta or pulmonary arteries, resulting in the valves opening and blood ejection. Similarly, as the ventricles relax and open, the resulting falling pressure created within the ventricles draws blood from the atria. Essentially, blood is sucked into the ventricle. In a healthy heart, approximately 65-85% of ventricular blood volume is provided during early diastole. Atrial diastole tops off the remaining 15-35% (atrial kick).

The heart consists of 4 chambers – 2 atria and 2 ventricles. The smaller atria are about 1/3 the size and volume of the ventricles. The left ventricle is the largest chamber of the heart, with about 3 times more muscle mass than the right ventricle. Both ventricles share a similar volume capacity. Due to the predominant size of the left ventricle, it is not surprising that 70% of all myocardial infarctions occur within the left ventricle.

Discussions of the heart often refer to two hearts – a right and a left heart. Structurally, this is due to a thick layer of connective tissue called the septum that separates the left and right heart. Functionally, the right heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs while the left heart pumps oxygenated blood to the body. When either the left or right side of the heart is unable to pump an adequate volume of blood, heart failure ensues that causes both decreased output and a backward volume buildup.

Chambers and Layers of the Heart

1. Six Second ECG Guidebook (2012), T Barill, p. 15-16

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