Ventricular

Ventricular is an anatomical term used to describe structures related to a ventricle, a hollow chamber or cavity in an organ. The term is most commonly applied to the heart and the brain, where ventricular structures play essential roles in circulation and intracranial physiology.

In cardiology, the heart contains two main ventricles: the right ventricle, which pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs, and the left ventricle, which pumps oxygenated blood to the systemic circulation. Ventricular function is central to cardiac health, with terms such as ventricular systole (contraction) and diastole (relaxation) describing phases of the heartbeat. Conditions affecting the ventricles include ventricular hypertrophy (thickening of the ventricular walls), ventricular failure, and ventricular arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, which can be life-threatening. Ventricular remodeling refers to structural changes that occur after injury to the heart muscle, such as after a myocardial infarction.

In the central nervous system, the ventricular system comprises interconnected cavities that contain cerebrospinal fluid. These include the lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, the cerebral aqueduct, and the fourth ventricle. The ventricles are lined with ependymal cells and produce CSF largely via the choroid plexus. CSF circulating through the ventricles helps cushion the brain, removes waste, and maintains intracranial pressure. Disorders of the ventricular system, such as hydrocephalus, involve abnormal CSF accumulation and pressure dynamics.

Etymology: ventricular derives from Latin ventriculus, meaning a small belly or cavity. The term appears in many anatomical and clinical phrases to indicate relation to a ventricle.