What it means
In the heart, the right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs and the left ventricle, the strongest chamber, pumps blood out to the whole body. The upper chambers are the atria. In the brain, four ventricles hold and make cerebrospinal fluid. Rhythms that start in the heart's ventricles include ventricular tachycardiaven-TRIK-yuh-ler tak-ih-KAR-dee-uhA fast heart rhythm that starts in the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles), usually over 100 beats per minute.ventricul/o ventricletachy- fastcardi/o heart-ia conditionFull entry and ventricular fibrillationven-TRIK-yuh-ler fib-ruh-LAY-shunA heart rhythm in which the lower chambers quiver in a fast, chaotic way instead of pumping.ventricul/o ventricle-ar relating tofibrill small fiber, twitching-ation processFull entry .
At a glance
| Spanish | ventrículo |
|---|---|
| Also written | ventricles, ventricular |
Related terms
heart failure
A long-term condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
cardiac output
The amount of blood the heart pumps out in one minute.
ventricular tachycardia
A fast heart rhythm that starts in the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles), usually over 100 beats per minute.
ventricular fibrillation
A heart rhythm in which the lower chambers quiver in a fast, chaotic way instead of pumping.