right/left development of the heart

Last reviewed 01/2018

Levocardia and dextrocardia refer to the position of the left and right ventricles in relation to one another and the midline.

In levocardia - normal - the embryonic cardiac loop protrudes to the right and carries the future right ventricle to the right. The left ventricle remains on the left and the heart is positioned to the left of the midline.

In dextrocardia the embryonic cardiac loop protrudes to the left carrying the right ventricle to the left. The left ventricle takes a position to the right of the right ventricle and the heart is positioned to the right of the midline.

The clinical manifestations of abnormal cardiac position are dominated by the associated cardiovascular anomalies. Dextrocardia is a feature of Kartagener's syndrome.