ventricle

noun

ven·​tri·​cle ˈven-tri-kəl 

: a cavity of a bodily part or organ: such as

a

: a chamber of the heart which receives blood from a corresponding atrium and from which blood is forced into the arteries see heart illustration

b

: any of a system of communicating cavities in the brain that are continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord see brain illustration

Examples of ventricle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Additionally, in the real world, holes left by ruptured ventricles can be larger and more irregular than the 8-mm ventricular hole that the patch covered. —New Atlas, 20 Aug. 2025

His special interests, according to the university's website, include complex neonatal cardiac surgery, valvular disease in children, single ventricle palliation and pediatric heart transplant. —Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 13 Aug. 2025

Sensors signal salt levels to the brain; in addition to the OVLT and SFO, sensors in the heart detect the stretching of atria and ventricles. —Dan Samorodnitsky, Quanta Magazine, 11 Aug. 2025

The brain disorder is caused by the accumulation of excessive cerebrospinal fluid in the brain’s ventricles, leading to a range of cognitive and physical problems, particularly issues with gait, coordination, and bladder control. —Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Latin ventriculus "belly, stomach, cavity in an organ," from ventr-, venter "belly, womb" + -culus, diminutive suffix (variant of -ulus -ule with nouns of the 3rd, 4th and 5th declensions) — more at venter

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ventricle

• third ventricle

Rhymes for ventricle

• fickle
• mickle
• nickel
• nickle
• nicol
• pickle
• prickle
• sickle
• tickle
• trickle

Kids Definition

ventricle

noun

ven·​tri·​cle ˈven-tri-kəl 

1

: a chamber of the heart which receives blood from an atrium and from which blood is forced into the arteries

2

: one of the cavities in the brain that are continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord

Medical Definition

ventricle

noun

ven·​tri·​cle ˈven-tri-kəl 

: a cavity of a bodily part or organ: as

a

: a chamber of the heart which receives blood from a corresponding atrium and from which blood is forced into the arteries

b

: one of the system of communicating cavities in the brain that are continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord, that like it are derived from the medullary canal of the embryo, that are lined with an epithelial ependyma, and that contain a serous fluid see lateral ventricle, third ventricle, fourth ventricle

c

: a fossa or pouch on each side of the larynx between the false vocal cords above and the true vocal cords below