"A heart enlarged by empathy has never yet killed anyone." Anonymous

Overview                       

The heart has a series of valves that ensure forward blood flow. The atrioventricular (AV) valves lie between the atria and the ventricles of the right and left heart. The AV valves are composed of 2-3 leaflets. The ventricles eject blood through semilunar valves composed of 3 cusps.

The right atria and ventricle are separated by the tricuspid valve, an atrioventricular valve. Blood ejected from the right ventricle passes through the pulmonic valve (while the closed tricuspid prevents back flow into the right atria). The bicuspid –or mitral - valve separates the left atria and ventricle. Blood ejected from the left ventricle passes through the aortic valve.  

 To the Top

Atrioventricular Valves (tricuspid and bicuspid)

The bicuspid (mitral) and tricuspid valves are composed of similar components: leaflets (3 for the tricuspid valve, 2 for the bicuspid valve), annulus - a fibrous ring that encircles the valve, chordae tendanae – fibrous ligaments that connect the leaflets to the papillary muscles which in turn flex when the ventricles contract to stabilize the AV valves.

The dysfunction of any of the valves components often result in regurgitation of blood into the atria with ventricular contraction - heard as a systolic ejection murmur. This would also potentially result in reduced volume of blood ejected from the ventricle.  

 To the Top

Semilunar Valves (pulmonic and aortic valves)

The semilunar valves are simpler structures than the AV valves. The pulmonic and aortic valves are virtually identical although the aortic valve consists of a thicker fibrous structure than the pulmonic valve.

Semilunar Valve

Age related changes to any of the valves can involve the formation of calcium deposits and stenosis of the valve leaflets or cusps. This could result in either regurgitation and/or resistance to blood being ejected through the valve.    

 To the Top