Cardiac ventricle

The cardiac ventricle is one of the primary muscular chambers of the heart. There are two ventricles in mammals—one on the left, one on the right—that perform distinct roles: the left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood into the high-pressure systemic circulation, while the right ventricle pumps blood into the lower-pressure pulmonary circuit[2]. The structure and physiological properties of ventricular myocardium have been studied extensively, with significant variation in myoarchitecture (compact, trabeculated, or mixed forms)[1]. Molecularly, cardiac function is coordinated by numerous proteins expressed in ventricular myocytes, including ion channels and contractile apparatus components[2]. However, the ventricle itself is not a protein, receptor, or other conventional drug target but rather a vital organ segment, so drug actions are mediated by molecular targets within ventricular tissue (such as sodium, potassium, and calcium channels; beta-adrenergic receptors; etc.)[2][3]. Developmental processes shaping ventricular formation involve molecular signals like Notch, Neuregulin, Ephrin, BMP10, and transcription factors such as NKX2-5, MEF2C, and GATA4, but these operate within cells of the ventricle, not the ventricle as a molecular entity[3][4]. Ventricles play central roles in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis and progression, with dysfunction manifesting as heart failure, arrhythmia, and remodeling[2][3]. In summary, "cardiac ventricle" is an anatomical structure, not a druggable molecular target, and information mapped to structured target lists should note this as an anatomical term with no canonical molecular target entry.

Other names

Heart ventricleLeft ventricleRight ventricleVentricular chamber