Heart valve

File:Pulmonary valve stenosis.svg

Pulmonary_valve_stenosis

Heart valve is the structure at each exit of the four chambers of the heart that allows blood to exit but not to flow back in.

Function

The valves open and close to control or regulate the blood flowing into the heart and then away from the heart.

Types

• Three of the heart valves are composed of three leaflets or flaps that work together to open and close to allow blood to flow across the opening.
• The mitral valve only has two leaflets

Pathology

• Healthy heart valve leaflets are able to fully open and close the valve during the heartbeat, but diseased valves might not fully open and close.
• Any valve in the heart can become diseased, but the aortic valve is most commonly affected.
• Diseased valves can become “leaky” where they don’t completely close; this is called regurgitation.
• If the hart valve narrows and causes obstruction to the flow, it is called stenosis.
• If this happens, blood leaks back into the chamber that it came from and not enough blood can be pushed forward through the heart.