What is the function of the right ventricle?

The function of the right ventricle is to pump blood to the lungs for oxygenation. This is a critical role in the circulatory system, as the right ventricle receives deoxygenated blood from the body through the right atrium. Once filled, it contracts to push this blood through the pulmonary artery into the lungs. In the lungs, carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen, effectively oxygenating the blood before it returns to the left side of the heart.

This function is essential because it establishes the pulmonary circulation loop, enabling the body to receive the oxygen it needs for metabolic processes. Understanding this specific role of the right ventricle is fundamental for grasping how blood circulation works in the human body, particularly between the heart and lungs.