Why does the left ventricle have a thicker muscular wall than the right ventricle?
AIt receives more deoxygenated blood from the body
BIt must pump blood at higher pressure to reach the entire body
CIt contains one-way heart valves that the right ventricle completely lacks
DIt sits in direct physical contact with the lungs and warms the blood
Explanation
The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood through the *systemic circuit* — every tissue in the body — which requires high pressure. The right ventricle only needs to push blood a short distance to the lungs (pulmonary circuit), so its wall is thinner. The left ventricle pumps *oxygenated* blood, not deoxygenated. Both ventricles have valves (AV and semilunar). The right ventricle, not the left, is closer to the lungs.