The left ventricle of the heart has an elongated shape and it is slightly larger than the right. From an anterior view perspective, it is located to the left, to the back, and downwards in relation to the other three cavities. Its narrow and anterior-inferior part corresponds to the apex of the heart. The boundary between the right and left ventricle on the surface of the heart correlates with the anterior and inferior interventricular grooves.
Although the cavity of the left ventricle is narrower than that of the right, it is slightly larger. On transverse section, the chamber of this ventricle is slit-like at the apex but it gradually becomes oval nearer to the base on top. The posterior-superior portion of this cavity communicates with the left atrium by means of the left atrioventricular orifice in whose circumference the left atrioventricular (mitral) valve is attached. This valve is made up of two cusps which projects downwards into the cavity.
The interventricular septum separates the left from the right ventricle. The rest of the myocardium on the left ventricle is much thicker than on the right ventricle. This is due to the fact that it has to pump a larger volume of blood than the right does. The right has to pump it only into the lungs, while the left ventricle has to pump to the rest of the body, from the head to the feet.
The left ventricle receives oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium via the mitral valve. This oxygenated blood flows into the left atrium from the lungs through the pulmonary vein. During systolic contraction, the left ventricle sends this oxygen-rich blood to the body through the aortic valve and aortic artery.
Below, the heart cut longitudinally to exhibit the four chambers (cavities) of the heart. Notice that the left ventricle cardiac muscle wall is much thicker than on the right and it is also larger, especially in the posterior portion.
