NACC PSW Practice Exam

The primary function of the left ventricle in the heart is to pump oxygenated blood to the body. This chamber receives blood that has been oxygenated in the lungs and then contracts to send it out through the aorta, delivering essential oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and organs throughout the circulatory system.

In the context of the heart's anatomy and physiology, the left ventricle is particularly powerful and muscular, allowing it to generate sufficient force to push blood through the high-resistance systemic circulation. This function is crucial for maintaining the body’s overall metabolic needs.

The other options focus on different aspects of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems but do not accurately describe the role of the left ventricle. For instance, the right ventricle is responsible for pumping carbon dioxide-rich blood to the lungs for oxygenation, while filtering waste from the blood is primarily done by the kidneys, not the heart. Additionally, regulating the heartbeat is managed by the heart's electrical conduction system, rather than being a direct function of the left ventricle itself.