rightventricular

Right ventricular refers to the chamber of the heart that pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs. The right ventricle (RV) forms the anterior portion of the heart and lies on the sternocostal surface, separated from the left ventricle by the interventricular septum. It has a triangular shape with two functional components: an inflow tract that receives blood from the right atrium through the tricuspid valve, and an outflow tract, or infundibulum, that conducts blood to the pulmonary trunk via the pulmonary valve. The interior surface contains trabeculae carneae and is marked by a moderator band that extends from the interventricular septum to the anterior papillary muscle.

The RV conducts blood through a low-pressure, high-volume system designed for pulmonary circulation. The inflow tract handles venous return from the body, while the outflow tract directs blood toward the lungs for oxygenation. Blood supply to the right ventricle is typically from branches of the right coronary artery, though contributory supply from the left coronary system can occur. Venous drainage parallels arterial supply via small veins that drain into the coronary sinus or directly into the right atrium.

Functionally, the RV generates less pressure than the left ventricle and is optimized for moving blood into the pulmonary circulation. Its performance is evaluated using imaging and hemodynamic measures such as ejection fraction and activity of the right ventricle’s contraction.

Clinical significance includes right ventricular dysfunction or failure, which can accompany pulmonary hypertension, chronic lung disease, right ventricular infarction, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Diagnostic approaches include echocardiography and cardiac MRI, with assessment focusing on structure, size, motion, and systolic function. Embryologically, the RV develops from the bulbus cordis and primitive ventricle, forming its inflow and outflow regions.