ventricle

American  

[ven-tri-kuhl] / ˈvɛn trɪ kəl /

noun

1. Zoology. any of various hollow organs or parts in an animal body.

2. Anatomy.

   1. either of the two lower chambers on each side of the heart that receive blood from the atria and in turn force it into the arteries.

   2. one of a series of connecting cavities of the brain.

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ventricle British  

/ ˈvɛntrɪkəl /

noun

1. a chamber of the heart, having thick muscular walls, that receives blood from the atrium and pumps it to the arteries

2. any one of the four main cavities of the vertebrate brain, which contain cerebrospinal fluid

3. any of various other small cavities in the body

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ventricle Scientific  

/ vĕn′trĭ-kəl /

1. A chamber of the heart that receives blood from one or more atria and pumps it by muscular contraction into the arteries. Mammals, birds, and reptiles have two ventricles; amphibians and fish have one.

2. Any of four fluid-filled cavities in the brain of vertebrate animals. The ventricles are filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

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Etymology

Origin of ventricle

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin ventriculus belly, ventricle. See venter, -i-, -cle ¹

Explanation

A ventricle is one of the chambers of the heart. It pumps blood to your arteries. Ventricles are very important, because they are part of your heart. The ventricles are large cavities—or chambers—and there are two of them. The ventricles receive blood from your atriums. Then that blood is pumped through your arteries to the rest of your body. Since your body needs that blood to function and survive, your ventricles have a crucial job. Any problem with your ventricles could lead to serious health problems.

Example Sentences

Harry Vanderspeigle has a big room in my heart, like my left ventricle.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2024

They examined the hearts of young and old mice and discovered that as the rodents aged, nerve fibers disappeared from the left ventricle, the chamber that pumps blood to most of the body.

From Science Magazine • May 22, 2024

But the regulator warned it could puncture a wall in the heart's left ventricle if used incorrectly.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2024

When the right ventricle is forced to pump blood to the whole body, it develops several maladaptive traits, including overly large muscle and scarring.

From Science Daily • Mar. 6, 2024

First I pump the blood to the lungs to pick up the oxygen then to the left atrium and ventricle then to the aorta to go all around his body like it should.

From "Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine