A gear pump , comprising: a housing ; a drive gear and a driven gear , the drive gear and the driven gear each having gear side surfaces ; and first and second end plates having plate side surfaces , the plate side surfaces each including a plurality of spiral grooves disposed opposite the gear side surfaces; the first and second end plates further comprising: a first opening and a second opening for receiving shafts associated with the drive gear and the driven gear ; and wherein the plurality of spiral grooves includes a first groove region positioned adjacent the first opening and a second groove region positioned adjacent the second opening ; wherein the plurality of spiral grooves are oriented such that rotation of the drive gear and the driven gear generates a low pressure zone in the plurality of spiral grooves adjacent a gear root of the drive gear and a gear root of the driven gear and generates a high pressure zone in the plurality of spiral grooves adjacent the first opening and the second opening ; and wherein the plurality of spiral grooves of the first groove region have first ends positioned a first distance from the first opening , thereby forming a circumferential dam around the first opening; and wherein the plurality of spiral grooves of the second groove region have first ends positioned a first distance from the second opening , thereby forming a circumferential dam around the second opening; and wherein the width of the plurality of spiral grooves adjacent a root diameter (RD) of the gear teeth of the drive gear and driven gear does not extend beyond a width of the gear teeth of the drive gear and the driven gear at the root diameter (RD) of the gear teeth. a housing ; a drive gear and a driven gear , the drive gear and the driven gear each having gear side surfaces ; and first and second end plates having plate side surfaces , the plate side surfaces each including a plurality of spiral grooves disposed opposite the gear side surfaces; the first and second end plates further comprising: a first opening and a second opening for receiving shafts associated with the drive gear and the driven gear ; and wherein the plurality of spiral grooves includes a first groove region positioned adjacent the first opening and a second groove region positioned adjacent the second opening ; wherein the plurality of spiral grooves are oriented such that rotation of the drive gear and the driven gear generates a low pressure zone in the plurality of spiral grooves adjacent a gear root of the drive gear and a gear root of the driven gear and generates a high pressure zone in the plurality of spiral grooves adjacent the first opening and the second opening ; and wherein the plurality of spiral grooves of the first groove region have first ends positioned a first distance from the first opening , thereby forming a circumferential dam around the first opening; and wherein the plurality of spiral grooves of the second groove region have first ends positioned a first distance from the second opening , thereby forming a circumferential dam around the second opening; and wherein the width of the plurality of spiral grooves adjacent a root diameter (RD) of the gear teeth of the drive gear and driven gear does not extend beyond a width of the gear teeth of the drive gear and the driven gear at the root diameter (RD) of the gear teeth. <EOS>