Mitral valve
Mitral valve leakage (mitral regurgitation) is a common disease of the heart valves.
The mitral valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle and prevents systolic backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium.
Mitral valve
The mitral valve sits between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It prevents the backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium of the heart during (systole) where it is closed. During the relaxation and filling phase (diastole), the valve is open and allows the chamber to fill.
The mitral valve consists of two delicate, connective tissue leaflets. The leaflets of the mitral valve are attached to the papillary muscles facing the ventricle by tendon threads.
The valve leaflets passively lay flush against each other when the pressure in the left ventricle increases. The papillary muscles prevent the mitral valve from flipping over into the left atrium by pulling on the chordae synchronously with the contraction of the ventricle.
The narrowing of the opening located between the valve leaflets causes what is most common in rheumatic valve disease. The leaky valve leads to loss of closing ability and causes mitral valve regurgitation. Systolic protrusion of the mitral valve into the left atrium is called mitral valve prolapse, which is often asymptomatic and does not require treatment.
Diseases and therapy of the mitral valve:
In mitral valve stenosis, the mitral valve, as the valve between the left ventricle and the left atrium, is restricted in its mobility by a calcifying narrowing. This disturbs the filling of the left ventricle. As a result, the left atrium is overstretched, leading to cardiac failure and even pulmonary edema.
Anatomy of the heart valves
The pulmonary valve and Aortic Valve (left heart valve in the picture) are located at the junction of the chambers with the large blood vessels, the pulmonary artery and the coronary artery, respectively.
The tricuspid valve and Mitral Valve (right heart valve in the picture) are located between the atria and the ventricles.
Specialists at the Heart Valve Center
Do you have questions about the function of healthy heart valves?
Make an appointment with the specialists at the Heart Valve Center.