Roles of Your Four Heart Valves

To better understand your valve condition and what your health care provider will discuss, it helps to know the role each heart valve plays in healthy blood circulation. Every part of the circulatory system must work together to deliver blood, oxygen and nutrients to all tissues. Watch an animation of the heart valves.

What role does each play in healthy circulation?

The four valves in order of circulation are:

1. 三尖瓣
   • 有三张传单 or cusps.
   • Separates the top right chamber (right atrium) from the bottom right chamber (right ventricle).
   • Opens to allow blood to flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
   • Prevents the back flow of blood from the right ventricle to the right atrium.

   Related valve problems include: 三尖瓣闭锁, 三尖瓣返流, 三尖瓣狭窄

2. Pulmonary Valve (or Pulmonic Valve)

   (链接在新窗会中打开)

   Watch a heart valve anatomy animation.

   • 有三张传单.
   • Separates the right ventricle from the pulmonary artery. 
   • Opens to allow blood to be pumped from the right ventricle to the lungs (through the pulmonary artery) where it will receive oxygen.
   • Prevents the back flow of blood from the pulmonary artery to the right ventricle.

   Related valve problems include: 肺动脉瓣狭窄, pulmonary valve regurgitation

3. 二尖瓣
   • 有两张传单.
   • Separates the top left chamber (left atrium) from the bottom left chamber (left ventricle).
   • Opens to allow blood to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. 
   • Prevents the back flow of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium.

   Related valve problems include: 二尖瓣脱垂, mitral valve regurgitation, 二尖瓣狭窄

4. 主动脉瓣
   • 有三张传单, unless it's abnormal from birth, i.e.二尖瓣主动脉瓣.
   • Separates the left ventricle from the aorta.
   • Opens to allow blood to leave the heart from the left ventricle through the aorta and the body.
   • Prevents the backflow of blood from the aorta to the left ventricle.

   Related valve problems include: 主动脉瓣返流 (also called aortic insufficiency), 主动脉瓣狭窄

Essentials for properly working valves

• The valve is properly formed and flexible.
• The valve should open all the way so the blood can pass through.
• The valve should close tightly so no blood leaks backwards into the chamber.