Viscera (heart, lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract)
Left ventricle
Ventriculus sinister cordis
- Origin
- Forms the apex of the heart and the left pulmonary surface; receives blood from the left atrium through the mitral valve
- Insertion
- Ejects blood across the aortic valve into the ascending aorta to supply systemic circulation
- Function
- Generates high systemic systolic pressure to pump oxygenated blood throughout the body
- Innervation
- Cardiac plexus (sympathetic T1-T4 enhancing inotropy; parasympathetic vagal fibers)
- Movement & chain
- Isovolumetric contraction, rapid and reduced ejection phases, followed by isovolumetric relaxation and rapid ventricular filling
- Palpation
- Apex beat (point of maximal impulse, PMI) palpable at the 5th left intercostal space in the midclavicular line
- Clinical
- Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), ischemic cardiomyopathy/myocardial infarction, systolic/diastolic heart failure (HFrEF/HFpEF).
- Segmental innervation
- T1-T4 spinal segments (anginal pain radiating to sternum, left shoulder, arm, jaw)
- In clinical practice
- Blood pressure management, ejection fraction monitoring by echocardiography, titration of beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and telemetry monitoring
- Region in the model
- Viscera (heart, lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract)