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Definition of ventricle

ventricle

/ˈvɛn.trɪ.kəl/
ven · tri · cle
Plural:ventricles
•
Adjective:ventricular
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ventricle Lexical Profile

ventricle Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Either of the two main lower muscular chambers of the heart that receive blood from the upper atria and pump it out into the arteries toward the lungs and the rest of the body.

Example

"The left ventricle has thicker muscular walls because it must pump oxygenated blood throughout the entire body."

2

Any of the four interconnected hollow cavities within the vertebrate brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid, or a similar anatomical cavity in another organ such as the larynx.

Example

"An MRI scan revealed mild enlargement of the lateral ventricles within the patient's brain."

Word Nuance & Usage

In cardiac anatomy, do not confuse the ventricles (the lower muscular chambers that pump blood out of the heart) with the atria (the upper chambers that receive blood entering the heart).

• Nearby Words

ventilation
ventilator
ventless
ventricle
ventriloquism
ventriloquist
ventspils

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 14th century from Latin 'ventriculus' (literally "little belly"), the diminutive of 'venter' ("belly" or "womb"), used by Roman anatomists as a loan-translation of Ancient Greek 'koilia' to describe cavities in the heart and brain.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ventricle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ventricle
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