The left ventricle is bigger than the right ventricle. This is because it has a much thicker wall and needs to pump blood with significantly more force to the entire body, compared to the right ventricle which only pumps blood to the lungs.
Why the Left Ventricle is Larger:
Several sources confirm the left ventricle's superior size and strength:
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Thicker Walls: The left ventricle's free wall is considerably thicker than the right ventricle's. (NCBI Bookshelf, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic) This increased thickness allows for greater contractile force.
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Systemic Circulation: The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood throughout the entire body, requiring significantly higher pressure than the right ventricle's pulmonary circulation. (MyTutor, Wikipedia)
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End-Diastolic and End-Systolic Volumes: Studies show that the end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricular volumes are significantly larger than those of the right ventricle. (NCBI PMC)
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Conical Shape and Size: The left ventricle’s conical shape and longer length contribute to its larger overall size compared to the right ventricle which is more curved.
It's important to note that conditions like left ventricular hypertrophy can further increase the left ventricle's size, but even in a healthy heart, the left ventricle remains larger than its right counterpart. Conversely, ventriculomegaly refers to enlarged brain ventricles, not the heart ventricles. (Cleveland Clinic, Boston Children's Hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital)
