The clinical anatomy of the right ventricle

Because the systemic and pulmonary circulations are arranged in series, the right and left ventricles of the human heart have similar stroke volumes (with only minute beat-to-beat changes). Besides propelling the same volume of blood through the corresponding circulations, the two ventricles also share common structures such as the pericardium, the interventricular septum and the coronary arteries and veins-all of which complete the dynamic and integrated picture of the human heart. However, there are marked differences between the left and right ventricles as each is adapted to separate and dissimilar vascular beds, including particular reactivity to stress, hormones, and drugs. Of the two, the right ventricle (RV) has so far been either more difficult to approach from the diagnostic point of view or even overlooked, while the left ventricle (LV) has been considered the main pump, and diagnostic and therapeutic measures have been considered to apply equally to the LV and RV. This review article presents an update, portraying the RV from the clinical anatomical point of view, and endeavors to underscore the main particulars of the RV with clinical and surgical applications.