3D CONTENT
3D HEART ANATOMY

LEFT VENTRICLE

Author: Dr. Bogdan Leahu
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Left ventricle trabecular part 360-degree interactive viewer showing trabeculae carneae and muscular ridges
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Left Ventricle - Trabecular Part, Preview from the app.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LEFT VENTRICLE

  • One of four cardiac chambers
  • Pumps oxygenated blood to entire body
  • Receives oxygen-rich blood from left atrium via mitral valve
  • Generates high pressure for systemic circulation

Position

  • Primarily situated behind right ventricle when viewed anteriorly
  • Forms cardiac apex
  • Forms left border of heart

INLET OF LEFT VENTRICLE

Inlet of left ventricle 360-degree interactive viewer showing region where blood enters from left atrium
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Inlet of Left Ventricle, Preview from the app.

  • Region where blood enters from left atrium
  • Guarded by mitral valve
    • Also called left atrioventricular valve
    • Ensures unidirectional blood flow
    • Prevents backflow during ventricular contraction

Aortic Vestibule

  • Smooth-walled portion below aortic orifice
  • Leads up to aortic valve
  • Streamlines blood flow from ventricle into aorta
  • Reduces turbulence
  • Enhances efficiency of blood ejection into systemic circulation

TRABECULAR PART OF LEFT VENTRICLE

Trabecular part of left ventricle showing trabeculae carneae and fine apical trabeculations
Trabecular Part of Left Ventricle - Sourced from the app 3D HEART ANATOMY
  • Inner ventricular walls with muscular ridges
  • Extends toward left ventricular apex

Trabeculae Carneae

  • Network of muscular ridges
  • Enhance ventricular contractile strength
  • Finer and more delicate than right ventricle

Fine Apical Trabeculations

  • Delicate mesh-like muscular structures
  • Located at left ventricular apex
  • Contrast with coarser trabeculations of right ventricle
  • Adapted for generating higher systemic pressures

PAPILLARY MUSCLES OF LEFT VENTRICLE

Papillary muscles of left ventricle showing superior and inferior papillary muscles
Papillary Muscles of Left Ventricle - Sourced from the app 3D HEART ANATOMY
  • Muscular projections within trabecular region
  • Anchor mitral valve leaflets via chordae tendineae
  • Ensure proper mitral valve closure during contraction
  • Prevent backflow into left atrium
  • Two prominent papillary muscles:
    • Superior papillary muscle
    • Inferior papillary muscle

Superior Papillary Muscle

  • Also called anterior papillary muscle
  • Larger of the two
  • Originates from lateral wall of left ventricle

Inferior Papillary Muscle

  • Also called posterior papillary muscle
  • Smaller of the two
  • Arises from inferior wall near septum
  • Both essential for mitral valve integrity during cardiac cycle

CHORDAE TENDINEAE OF LEFT VENTRICLE

Chordae tendineae of left ventricle showing fibrous cords connecting papillary muscles to mitral valve leaflets
Chordae Tendineae of Left Ventricle - Sourced from the app 3D HEART ANATOMY
  • Thin strong fibrous cords
  • Essential components of valvular apparatus
  • Connect papillary muscles to valve leaflets
  • Attach to mitral valve cusps
  • Prevent leaflet prolapse into left atrium during contraction
  • Ensure secure valve closure
  • Maintain efficient unidirectional blood flow

Chordae Tendineae Spuriae

  • False chordae
  • Do not attach to valve leaflets
  • May span between ventricular walls
  • May connect between papillary muscles

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Drake RL, Vogl AW, Mitchell AWM. Gray's Anatomy for Students. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2020. Chapter 3: Thorax.

2. Standring S, editor. Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42nd ed. Edinburgh: Elsevier; 2021. p. 996-1046.

3. Moore KL, Dalley AF, Agur AMR. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2018. p. 127-162.

QUICK FACTS: LEFT VENTRICLE

Key questions answered about this anatomy topic

Q: What is the primary function of the left ventricle?

Answer: Pumps oxygenated blood to the entire body. The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the entire body through the systemic circulation, generating the high pressure needed to distribute blood throughout all organs and tissues.

Q: Which valve guards the inlet of the left ventricle?

Answer: Mitral valve. The mitral valve (also called the left atrioventricular valve) guards the inlet of the left ventricle, ensuring unidirectional blood flow from the left atrium and preventing backflow during ventricular contraction.

Q: What is the aortic vestibule?

Answer: The smooth-walled portion below the aortic orifice. The aortic vestibule is the smooth-walled portion below the aortic orifice that leads up to the aortic valve. It streamlines blood flow from the ventricle into the aorta and reduces turbulence.

Q: How do the trabeculae carneae of the left ventricle compare to those of the right ventricle?

Answer: They are finer and more delicate. The trabeculae carneae of the left ventricle are finer and more delicate than those of the right ventricle. This structural adaptation helps generate the higher systemic pressures needed for systemic circulation.

Q: What anatomical feature does the left ventricle form?

Answer: Cardiac apex and left border of the heart. The left ventricle forms the cardiac apex and the left border of the heart. It is primarily situated behind the right ventricle when viewed anteriorly.

Want to test yourself? Try the interactive quiz above!

⋮⋮ Left Ventricle Quiz
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