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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

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Murine Fetal Echocardiography
Published on: February 15, 2013
A heart within the heart: double-chambered left ventricle
Ole A Breithardt1, Dieter Ropers, Theresa Seeliger
1II Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum Coburg, Academic Teaching Hospital of the University of Wuerzburg, Ketschendorfer Str 33, DE-96450 Coburg, Germany. olebreithardt@gmx.de
Summary
A rare congenital heart anomaly, double-chambered left ventricle, was identified in a 49-year-old woman presenting with palpitations. Advanced imaging confirmed this rare cardiac finding.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Congenital heart anomalies are rare in adults.
- Double-chambered left ventricle (DCLV) is an uncommon cardiac malformation.
Observation:
- A 49-year-old woman presented with palpitations and reduced exercise capacity.
- Initial echocardiography suggested a possible double-chambered left ventricle.
Findings:
- Cardiac computed tomography (CT) scanning, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and invasive angiography confirmed the diagnosis of DCLV.
- This case highlights the utility of multimodal imaging in diagnosing rare cardiac conditions.
Implications:
- Accurate diagnosis of rare congenital heart anomalies is crucial for appropriate patient management.
- Multimodal cardiovascular imaging plays a vital role in characterizing complex cardiac structures.
- Understanding rare cardiac anomalies improves clinical awareness and diagnostic capabilities.
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The human heart is a complex organ made up of four chambers: the right and left atria and the right and left ventricles. These internal chambers are separated by partitions known as the interatrial and interventricular septa. The exterior of the heart features a groove known as the coronary sulcus that demarcates the atria from the ventricles, while the anterior and posterior interventricular sulci distinguish between the two ventricles.
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The human heart is made up of three layers of tissue that are surrounded by the pericardium, a membrane that protects and confines the heart. The outermost layer, closest to the pericardium, is the epicardium. The pericardial cavity separates the pericardium from the epicardium. Beneath the epicardium is the myocardium, the middle layer, and the endocardium, the innermost layer. There are four chambers of the heart: the right atrium, the right ventricle, the left atrium, and the left ventricle.
Anatomy of the Heart
The heart is a hollow, muscular organ approximately the size of a fist, consisting of four chambers. It is enclosed in the pericardium, a fibrous sac with two layers: the visceral and parietal pericardium, separated by a fluid-filled space containing serous fluid to reduce friction.
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The human heart, despite its modest size and weight, is an organ of remarkable strength and endurance. Roughly the size of a fist, the heart weighs between 250 and 350 grams and is nestled within the mediastinum, the medial cavity of the thorax. It extends obliquely for about 12 to 14 cm, resting on the superior surface of the diaphragm. The heart is positioned anterior to the vertebral column and posterior to the sternum, with two-thirds of its mass lying to the left of the midsternal line.
Overview of the Heart
The heart, a muscular organ located in the chest, functions as the body's pump, circulating blood through the vascular system. It has four chambers: two atria on top and two ventricles below. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body and passes it to the right ventricle, which pumps it to the lungs for oxygenation. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and transfers it to the left ventricle, which pumps it to the rest of the body.
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The heart wall comprises three distinct layers: the epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium. The outermost layer, the epicardium, is the visceral layer of the serous pericardium, featuring a thin, transparent mesothelial surface and an inner layer of areolar connective tissue with fat deposits that increase with age.
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