Ventricles - GCSE Biology Definition

Reviewed by: Lára Marie McIvor

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In the context of biology and the human heart, the ventricles are the two lower chambers of the heart. There is a left ventricle and a right ventricle. These chambers are part of the circulatory system and are responsible for pumping blood out of the heart. The right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs to collect oxygen, while the left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. The ventricles have thick muscular walls, especially the left ventricle, because they must generate high pressure to pump blood effectively. Understanding how the ventricles function is important in GCSE Biology for learning how the heart works as part of the cardiovascular system.

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Lára Marie McIvor

Reviewer: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Biology, Psychology & Sociology Subject Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.

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