Tricuspid valve
The tricuspid valve ensures that blood flows in the "right" direction in the body.
As a valve, the tricuspid valve prevents the backflow of blood from the right ventricle into the right atrium during the blood outflow phase. The tricuspid valve is much less commonly affected by valve disease.
Tricuspid valve
The tricuspid valve sits between the right atrium and the right ventricle. As a valve, the tricuspid valve prevents blood from flowing back from the right ventricle into the right atrium during the blood outflow phase. (Systole). During the relaxation and filling phase (diastole), the valve is open and allows the chamber to fill.
The tricuspid valve consists of three delicate, connective tissue leaflets. The leaflets of the tricuspid 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 right ventricle increases. The papillary muscles prevent the tricuspid valve from flipping over into the right atrium by pulling on the chordae synchronously with the contraction of the ventricle.
The tricuspid valve is much less frequently affected by valve disease. A diseased tricuspid valve can be leaky (insufficient) or narrowed (stenosed). The most common disease is Tricuspid regurgitation.
The leaky valve leads to loss of closing ability and causes tricuspid regurgitation. Narrowing of the opening between the valve leaflets causes tricuspid valve stenosis.
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
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