LEFT VENTRICLE

Left ventricle trabecular part 360-degree interactive viewer showing trabeculae carneae and muscular ridges

Left Ventricle - Trabecular Part, Preview from the app.

LEFT VENTRICLE

What is the left ventricle?

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

Position

Where is the left ventricle located?

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

INLET OF LEFT VENTRICLE

Inlet of left ventricle 360-degree interactive viewer showing region where blood enters from left atrium

Inlet of Left Ventricle, Preview from the app.

What is the inlet of the left ventricle?

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

Aortic Vestibule

What is the aortic vestibule?

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

TRABECULAR PART OF LEFT VENTRICLE

Trabecular part of left ventricle showing trabeculae carneae and fine apical trabeculations
Trabecular Part of Left Ventricle, Preview from the app. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Sourced from 3D HEART ANATOMY.

What is the trabecular part of the left ventricle?

  • Inner ventricular walls with muscular ridges
  • Extends toward left ventricular apex

Trabeculae Carneae

What are the trabeculae carneae?

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

Fine Apical Trabeculations

What are 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, Preview from the app. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Sourced from 3D HEART ANATOMY.

What are the papillary muscles of the left ventricle?

  • Muscular projections within trabecular region
  • Anchor mitral valve leaflets via chordae tendineae
  • Ensure proper mitral valve closure during contraction
  • Prevent backflow into your left atrium
  • Two prominent papillary muscles:
    • Superior papillary muscle
    • Inferior papillary muscle

Superior Papillary Muscle

What is the superior papillary muscle?

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

Inferior Papillary Muscle

What is the inferior papillary muscle?

  • Also called posterior papillary muscle
  • Smaller of the two
  • Arises from inferior wall near septum

Why are both papillary muscles essential?

  • Both essential for mitral valve integrity during your 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, Preview from the app. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Sourced from 3D HEART ANATOMY.

What are the chordae tendineae?

  • Thin strong fibrous cords
  • Essential components of valvular apparatus
  • Connect papillary muscles to valve leaflets
  • Attach to mitral valve cusps
  • Prevent leaflet prolapse into your left atrium during contraction
  • Ensure secure valve closure
  • Maintain efficient unidirectional blood flow

Chordae Tendineae Spuriae

What are chordae tendineae spuriae?

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

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Gray H, Lewis W. Angiology. In: Anatomy of the Human Body. 1918. p. 526–542.

2. Gosling JA, Harris PF, Humpherson JR, Whitmore I, Willan PLT. Human anatomy: color atlas and textbook. 6th ed. 2017. 45–58 p.

3. Anderson RH, Spicer DE, Hlavacek AM, Cook AC, Backer CL. (2013). Anatomy of the cardiac chambers. In Wilcox’s Surgical Anatomy of the Heart (4th ed., pp. 13–50). Cambridge University Press.

4. Fritsch H, Kuehnel W. Color Atlas of Human Anatomy. Vol. Volume 2, Color Atlas and Textbook of Human Anatomy. 2005. 10–42 p.

5. Moore K, Dalley A, Agur A. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Vol. 7ed, Clinically Oriented Anatomy. 2014. 132–151 p.

6. Ho SYen. Anatomy for Cardiac Electrophysiologists: A Practical Handbook. Cardiotext Pub; 2012. 5–27 p.