The wall of the left ventricle is thicker than the right because
A) the left ventricle does more work than the right ventricle.
B) the left ventricle pumps against greater resistance than the right ventricle.
C) the left ventricle produces a higher pressure than the right.
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The left ventricle does more work than the right ventricle because it pumps blood to the entire body, while the right ventricle only pumps blood to the lungs. The left ventricle also pumps against greater resistance because it must overcome the higher pressure of the systemic circulation, as opposed to the lower pressure in the pulmonary circulation. These factors combined result in the left ventricle producing a higher pressure and requiring a thicker wall than the right ventricle.

The Wall of the Left Ventricle Is Thicker Than the Right