Final answer:
The left ventricle exerts greater force upon contraction compared to the right ventricle. This is due to the left ventricle's thicker myocardium, which must overcome higher resistance in the systemic circuit to pump blood throughout the body, although both ventricles pump the same stroke volume.
Step-by-step explanation:
Of the two ventricles, the left ventricle exerts greater force upon contraction. Both the right and left ventricles pump the same amount of blood per contraction, known as stroke volume, which is normally in the range of 70–80 mL. However, the left ventricle must produce a much higher pressure due to the greater resistance it encounters in the systemic circuit. This is facilitated by the significantly thicker and better-developed muscular layer, or myocardium, of the left ventricle compared to the right.
During the ventricular ejection phase of ventricular systole, the left ventricle's contraction raises the pressure to a point where it exceeds that of the aorta, allowing blood to be pumped throughout the body. The right ventricle, contracting against lower resistance in the shorter pulmonary circuit, does not need to generate as much pressure. Despite the difference in pressure generated, the amount of blood each ventricle pumps remains equal. This ensures a balanced cardiac output between the two circuits of the heart.
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