Which structure is visible in an anterior view of the heart and is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the body?

• A. Superior vena cava
• B. Right atrium
• C. Pulmonary trunk
• D. Left ventricle

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by identifying the anatomical location of the heart in an anterior view. The anterior view shows the front of the heart, including major structures such as the ventricles, atria, and large blood vessels.
2. Step 2: Understand the function of each structure listed in the options. The superior vena cava carries deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the right atrium, the right atrium receives deoxygenated blood, and the pulmonary trunk carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. None of these structures pump oxygenated blood to the body.
3. Step 3: Recall the role of the left ventricle in systemic circulation. The left ventricle is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood received from the lungs (via the left atrium) into the aorta, which distributes it to the rest of the body.
4. Step 4: Visualize the anterior view of the heart. The left ventricle is visible in this view and is the thickest-walled chamber of the heart, designed to generate the force needed to pump blood throughout the body.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct structure visible in the anterior view of the heart responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the body is the left ventricle.