Final answer:
The statement is false; ANP is secreted by cells in the atria of the heart in response to increased blood volume, not by the ventricles which secrete BNP, a similar hormone.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the ventricles of the heart secrete the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is false. ANP is actually secreted by cells in the atria of the heart, particularly in response to high blood volume which causes extensive stretching of these cardiac cells. The ventricles produce a hormone with a similar function, known as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), not ANP. Both of these natriuretic hormones work as antagonists to angiotensin II, leading to a reduction in blood volume and pressure by promoting the excretion of sodium and water through the kidneys, and suppressing the production and release of renin, aldosterone, and ADH.