Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

What is the role of the ventricles in the heart?

1. They receive blood from the lungs

2. They pump blood out to the lungs and the body

3. They regulate the heartbeat

4. They are responsible for oxygen exchange

The correct answer is: They pump blood out to the lungs and the body

The role of the ventricles in the heart is primarily to pump blood out to the lungs and the rest of the body. Each ventricle has a specific function: the right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation, while the left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the entire body. This pumping action is crucial for maintaining blood circulation, as it ensures that tissues receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to function properly. The other choices highlight functions that are not performed by the ventricles. The right atrium receives blood from the body and directs it into the right ventricle, but it is not the role of the ventricles themselves to receive blood from the lungs. Regulating the heartbeat is primarily the role of the sinoatrial (SA) node and the conducting system of the heart, rather than the ventricles. Lastly, oxygen exchange occurs in the lungs during respiration and is not a function associated with the ventricles, which are primarily responsible for the movement of blood.