The Right Ventricle: Biologic Insights and Response to Disease

Despite ample evidence that right ventricular function is a critical determinant of the clinical response to a spectrum of cardiovascular diseases, there has been only a limited analysis of the unique and distinguishing physiologic properties of the RV under normal circumstances and in response to pathologic insults. This review highlights some of these features and underscores the fact that rational therapy in RV failure should acknowledge this physiology and ought to be chamber specific.