Difference Between Left and Right Side of Heart

The key difference between left and right side of heart is that the left side of heart comprises of left atrium and left ventricle that have oxygen-rich blood while right side of heart comprises of right atrium and right ventricle that have poor oxygen blood.

The human heart is muscular; four-chambered an amazing organ that consists of two ventricles and two atria. It is about the size of fist and situates posterior to the sternum and anterior to the vertebral column in the rib cage. Also, the cardiac muscles make the muscles of the heart, and these muscles contract involuntarily. Furthermore, the main function of the heart is to pump and to circulate blood through the body’s network of blood vessels, which supplies nutrition and oxygen to body cells and removes waste products from the cells.

Since there are two cycle pumps present in humans (pulmonary and systemic), the heart can be divided into two parts namely; left side and right side, each of which contains one atrium and one ventricle. The muscular part between these two parts is the atrioventricular septum. However, left and right side of heart work together. In simple words, they beat together.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Left Side of Heart
3. What is Right Side of Heart
4. Similarities Between Left and Right Side of Heart
5. Side by Side Comparison – Left vs Right Side of Heart in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Left Side of Heart?

Left side of the human heart comprises two chambers, which are left ventricle and left atrium. Furthermore, it has two main heart valves namely aortic valve and bicuspid mitral valves. The left side of the heart receives oxygenated blood (oxygen-rich blood) from the pulmonary veins and helps to pump it throughout the body cells and organs. Since left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to all body parts, it needs a heavy force.

Hence, the walls of the left ventricle are thicker than the walls of the right ventricle. Aorta and pulmonary veins connect to the left side of the heart through the left atrium.

When considering the blood flow through the left side of the heart, it occurs as follows.

• Pulmonary veins bring the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to left
• Then the left atrium contracts and blood flows through the mitral valve to the left ventricle.
• Next, the mitral valve shuts and left ventricles contracts.
• Finally, the blood enters into aortic valve and flows throughout the body.

What is Right Side of Heart?

Right side of the human heart consists of two heart chambers; the right ventricle and right atrium. And also, it connects with two heart valves tricuspid valve and pulmonary valve. The right side of the heart receives deoxygenated blood (poor oxygen blood) from body organs through superior and inferior vena cava and returns to lungs through the pulmonary artery. The concentration of CO2 and other wastes are higher in the blood which flows through the right side of the heart, hence calls deoxygenated blood. Furthermore, special types of tissues that help to generate nerve impulse can be found only in this side.

When considering the blood flow through the right side of the heart, it occurs as follows.

• Inferior and superior vena cava bring poor oxygen blood to the right atrium.
• Then, through the tricuspid valve, blood flows to the right ventricle.
• Once right ventricle filled with blood, the tricuspid valve shuts and right ventricle contracts.
• Finally, the blood enters the pulmonary valve and flows to the lungs for oxygenation.

What are the Similarities Between Left and Right Side of Heart?

• Left and Right Side of Heart are two sides of the heart.
• Both sides consist of an atrium and a ventricle.
• Blood flows via both sides.
• Both sides contract and relax.
• They contain important heart valves.
• Blood flows in only one direction on both sides.

What is the Difference Between Left and Right Side of Heart?

Left and Right Side of Heart are two major parts of the heart. Both sides consist of an atrium and a ventricle. Furthermore, they consist of two main valves too. The key difference between left and right side of heart is that the left side of heart circulates oxygen-rich blood while the right side of heart circulates poor oxygen blood.  Another difference between left and right side of heart is that the left side of heart receives blood from the lungs while the right side of heart sends blood to the lungs.

Summary – Left vs Right Side of Heart

There are two major sides of the heart; left side of heart and right side of heart. The left side of heart consists of two chambers; left atrium and left ventricle, and two heart valves; mitral valve and aortic valve. In contrast, right side of heart consists of two heart chambers; right atrium and right ventricle and two heart valves; tricuspid valve and pulmonary valve. The key difference between left and right side of heart is that the type of blood circulates. Oxygenated blood flows via left side of heart while deoxygenated blood flows via right side of heart. Furthermore, the walls of left side of the heart are thicker than the right side walls. Hence, this is the difference between left and right side of heart.

Reference:

1.“How the Heart Works: Get Facts about the Human Heart.” MedicineNet. Available here  

Image Courtesy:

1.”2012 Blood Flow Relaxed Ventricles”By OpenStax College – Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Web site. , Jun 19, 2013., (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia  
2.”Atrial septal defect-en”By Manco Capac – Own work, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia