Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

What is the primary function of the ventricles in the heart?

1. To receive blood

2. To pump blood

3. To regulate heart rate

4. To filter blood

The correct answer is: To pump blood

The primary function of the ventricles in the heart is to pump blood. The heart consists of four chambers, including two atria (upper chambers) and two ventricles (lower chambers). The ventricles are the thicker-walled chambers that contract to forcefully send blood out of the heart. The right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation, while the left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. This pumping action is crucial for maintaining circulation and delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues throughout the body. In contrast, other functions mentioned, such as receiving blood, are primarily the responsibility of the atria, which collect blood returning to the heart. Regulating heart rate is controlled by the heart's electrical conduction system, particularly the sinoatrial (SA) node, not the ventricles themselves. Filtering blood does occur in the body, primarily through organs such as the kidneys and liver, rather than the ventricles. Thus, the ventricles' primary and most vital role is to pump blood effectively.