Figure 1. The anatomic relationship of the right ventricle (RV) to the left ventricle (LV) illustrating the crescent shape of the right ventricle and the globular shape of the heart. Left atrium (LA) and right atrium (RA). (From Guyton^[24] with permission.)

Figure 2. Effect of increasing afterload (A) and preload (B) on the right and left ventricle. (From McFadden and Braunwald^[22] with permission.)

Figure 3. Measurement of mean pulmonary pressures in a dog over a 4- to 5-minute period. The right ventricle is unable to generate a mean pulmonary artery pressure > 40 mmHg, leading to sudden circulatory collapse. (From Wiedemann and Matthay^[24] with permission.)

Figure 4. Pathophysiology of acute right heart failure: the vicious cycle. (From Wiedemann and Matthay^[24] with permission.)

Figure 5. The illustration demonstrates the left ventricular diastolic volume pressure curve in three groups of dogs: normal dogs, dogs with right ventricle pressure stress in which right ventricular end diastolic pressure (RVEDP) is maintained at low levels similar to normal humans, and dogs with right ventricle pressure stress in which the RVEDP is allowed to increase to higher levels. This demonstrates a form of "ventricular interdependence" in which the right ventricle stress decreases left ventricular compliance. (From Wiedemann and Matthay^[24] with permission.)

Figure 6. Chest radiograph showing the increased width of the right descending pulmonary artery indicating the presence of pulmonary hypertension. (Courtesy of Dr. RA Matthay, New Haven, CT.)

Figure 7. Echocardiogram indicating the evidence of structural changes secondary to cor pulmonale including diastolic flattening of the interventricular septum indicating volume overload of the right ventricle. (Courtesy of Dr. RA Matthay, New Haven, CT.)