Ventricle

Pronunciation

• enPR: vÄ•nʹtrÄ­-kÉ™l, IPA: /ˈvÉ›ntrɪkÉ™l/

Origin

From French ventricule, from Latin ventriculus ("belly, stomach, ventricle"), diminutive of venter ("belly, stomach, womb")

Noun

1. (anatomy, zoology) Any small cavity within a body; a hollow part or organ, especially:
1. (anatomy) One of two lower chambers of the heart.
2. (anatomy) One of four cavities in the brain.
3. (archaic, anatomy, zoology) The stomach.
• 1662, Henry More, , Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 72:birds "Where omitting the more general Properties, of having two Ventricles, and picking up stones to conveigh them into their second Ventricle, the Gizzern, (which provision and instinct is a supply for the want of teeth;) "
4. (archaic) The womb.

Related terms

• interventricular
• intraventricular
• ventricular
• ventriculus