Cardiovascular Imaging

Left ventricle

the systemic pumping chamber of the heart. It receives blood from the left atrium through the mitral valve and ejects blood into the aorta through the aortic valve. On the frontal chest X-ray it is represented by the lower left cardiac border including the apex and on the lateral X-ray by the posterior border of the heart. Left ventricular enlargement causes the cardiac apex to extend laterally and caudally on the frontal X-ray and posteriorly on the lateral X-ray. Precise assessment of left ventricular volumes and function can be accomplished with echocardiography, cine MRI, electron beam CT and left ventriculography.

CBH