The valve apparatus of our heart performs the most important function of ensuring proper blood circulation. Each valve of the heart (and there are four of them), synchronously opening and closing, prevents the movement of blood flow in the opposite direction. This ensures the perfect coherence and precision of the work of the entire mechanism of the central organ of the human body.
If we compare the heart chamber with a gateway, then the heart valve plays the role of its valves. Each of them has its own characteristics and purpose. The aortic valve of the heart serves to block the entrance to the aorta. Anatomically, it consists of three crescent-like valves. When the left ventricle contracts, this heart valve allows blood flow to the aorta.
The mitral valve, which has a bicuspid structure, is located between the left ventricle and the atrium, the entrance to which it blocks, thereby preventing the reverse direction of blood flow. Its cyclic operation is fully synchronized with the leftventricle.
The tricuspid valve of the heart, also called the tricuspid valve, is located between the ventricle and the atrium on the right side and, as its name implies, has a tripartite structure. In the open state, it passes blood from the atrium into the cavity of the right ventricle, the complete filling of which causes a muscle contraction reaction, as a result of which the valve closes. What prevents the reverse movement of blood and ensures its circulation in the right direction.
The pulmonary valve, located at the trunk inlet of this organ, ensures the movement of blood from the right ventricle to the pulmonary arteries. This is the general structure and functional purpose of the cardiac valvular apparatus. From this it becomes clear that the uninterrupted operation of the entire central organ of the circulatory system is possible only with the smooth and ideal functioning of this biological mechanism.
A characteristic feature of valves is that they are subjected to heavy loads during constant mechanical work. It has been estimated that over a seventy-year lifespan, valves open and close more than two billion times. This often leads to various pathologies. Petals (cusps) of he althy valves are thin and very flexible tissues of a perfect geometric shape. Naturally, such a fabric is subject to wear. In addition, often pathologies can be caused by birth defects. Valves can be damaged and scarred inas a result of rheumatic attacks, various infections, for genetic reasons, due to age-related changes, heart attacks and many other factors.
All of these can cause stenosis (narrowing of the inlet) or insufficiency (incomplete closure of the leaflets). Sometimes in such cases, surgery may be required on the heart, the valve of which needs to be repaired or replaced. And although modern technologies and materials allow such complex and responsible procedures to be carried out with a very high probability of success, the risk is still extremely high.
Most often today, operations are performed to reconstruct the most "fragile" heart valve - the mitral valve. In case of serious damage to this valve, the procedure for replacing it often becomes the only salvation for the patient. Surgical intervention, for all its dangers, is far superior in terms of effectiveness to any medical method of treatment.
