How is the left side of the heart different from the right?

Answer 1

If we consider where the blood flows in/out of the heart, this question becomes relatively easy. Blood flows through the inferior and superior vena cava and into the right atrium. From here, the right atrium acts as a primer and then flows into the right ventricle via the tricuspid valve. From the right ventricle, blood is pushed out through the pulmonary valves and into the pulmonary arteries. Note that the blood that is received and hence pumped out on the right hand side of the heart is deoxygenated. From here, the blood will flow into the lungs where it sill be oxygenated. These are the major characteristics of the RIGHT hand side of the heart.

Essentially, the left hand side of the heart is the same as the right. Oxygenated Blood will flow in through the pulmonary veins and into the left atrium, which will then flow via the mitral/bicuspid valve into the left ventricle. A notable difference here is that if we consider where the left hand side of the heart must pump out to (the systemic circulation, i.e. the rest of the body), it will require more force, therefore the myocardium of the left hand side of the heart is noticable thicker and stronger than the right hand side, which must only reach the lungs.) The blood will be pumped from the left ventricle into the aorta via the aortic valve.

So, as noted above the major differences in the left and right hand side of the heart are in bold - however, there are also a few more noticable features, which i will sum up in dot points below:

• The right hand side of the heart receives blood from the rest of the body and therefore the pressure in the right hand side of the heart will be close to 0 mmHg. However, with the left hand side of the heart, the ventricle does significant work to accelarate and force the blood out, pushing the pressure to around 120 mmHg.
• Finally, the Sinoatrial node (where the electric impulse of the heart begins) is located on the right hand side of the heart, just where the superior vena cava articulates with the right atrium.

These last two dot points are slightly more noticable differences between the sides of the heart. Hope this is comprehensive enough :)