In a normal heart, the depolarization vector of the right ventricle proceeds in which direction?

In a normal heart, the depolarization vector of the right ventricle proceeds in which direction?

• A. Down and to the right
• B. Up and to the right
• C. Down and to the left
• D. Up and to the left

Answer: (A)

The depolarization vector reflects the overall direction the wavefront travels through a chamber. The right ventricle sits toward the anterior and right side of the heart, so its activation spreads from the septal/endocardial region toward the outer wall of the right ventricle, giving a net vector that points toward the inferior and rightward aspects of the heart. In a normal heart this results in a direction downward and to the right. Other directions would imply activation toward the upper regions or toward the left-sided structures, which doesn’t match the right ventricle’s anatomical position and activation pattern.

The depolarization vector reflects the overall direction the wavefront travels through a chamber. The right ventricle sits toward the anterior and right side of the heart, so its activation spreads from the septal/endocardial region toward the outer wall of the right ventricle, giving a net vector that points toward the inferior and rightward aspects of the heart. In a normal heart this results in a direction downward and to the right. Other directions would imply activation toward the upper regions or toward the left-sided structures, which doesn’t match the right ventricle’s anatomical position and activation pattern.