Right Ventricle
The right ventricle is crescent shaped in cross-section and wrapped around the right and caudal aspects of the left ventricle. The pulmonary trunk leaves the right ventricle to take blood to the lungs.
Left Ventricle
The left ventricle is circular in cross section and forms the apex of the heart as a whole. The wall is much thicker than that of the right ventricle.
The aorta leaves the left ventricle to send blood to the body.
The Valves
The right atrioventricular (tricuspid) valve is composed of 3 flaps or cusps which attach to a fibrous ring that encircles the opening between the right atrium and right ventricle.
The pulmonary semilunar valve is located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
The left atrioventricular (bicuspid or mitral) valve possesses only 2 cusps and closes the opening between the left atrium and left ventricle.
The aortic semilunar valve closes the opening to the aorta which arises centrally from the left ventricle.
Fibrous Skeleton of the Heart
In addition to cardiac muscle tissue, the heart wall contains dense connective tissue that forms the Fibrous Skeleton of the Heart. This contains four dense connective tissue rings that surround the valves of the heart, fuse with one another, and merge with the intraventricular septum. Essentially, it forms the structural foundation for the heart valves and prevents outstretching of
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