Background. The concept of ''one and a half'' ventricular repair is to
use ''half'' a ventricle to support the pulmonary circulation. The co
mponent makeup of any ventricle needs clarification for us to understa
nd the nature of the so-called half ventricle. Methods. The components
of normal and abnormal ventricles are reviewed. Results. Normal ventr
icles possess an inlet, an apical trabecular component, and an outlet.
This tripartite approach is also logical in the description of congen
itally malformed ventricles. Rudimentary and incomplete ventricles lac
k one or more of its component parts, and are usually hypoplastic. The
location and morphology of the rudimentary ventricles correlate with
the disposition of the atrioventricular conduction system. Conclusions
. Recognition of the ventricular components permits determination of v
entricular morphology and guidelines for the location of the atriovent
ricular conduction axis. (C) 1998 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.