ventriculii

Ventriculi, or ventricles in English, are cavities found in the brain and heart. They are lined by ependymal cells and associated with fluid flow or blood movement. The brain’s ventricular system consists of four cavities: the two lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, and the fourth ventricle. CSF is produced mainly by the choroid plexus within these ventricles and circulates through the system via the foramina of Monro, the cerebral aqueduct, and the foramina of Luschka and Magendie, ultimately reaching the subarachnoid space and spinal canal. This system cushions the brain, facilitates waste removal, and helps regulate intracranial pressure and chemical balance.

The heart contains two ventricles: the right ventricle and the left ventricle. They are separated by the interventricular septum and connect with the atria through the atrioventricular valves—the tricuspid on the right and the mitral on the left. The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs via the pulmonary artery, while the left ventricle ejects blood into the aorta for systemic circulation. The left ventricular wall is thicker, reflecting higher pressure generation. Papillary muscles and chordae tendineae anchor the valve leaflets to prevent backflow during contraction.

Clinical relevance includes hydrocephalus and ventriculomegaly in the brain, or congenital and acquired heart conditions that affect ventricular function and hemodynamics. Imaging and anatomical descriptions of ventriculi/ventricles are common in neuroimaging, cardiology, and anatomy to assess structure and function.