How do heart valves work

The valves prevent the backward flow of blood. Valves are actually flaps leaflets that act as one-way inlets for blood coming into a ventricle and one-way outlets for blood leaving a ventricle. Normal valves have 3 flaps leaflets , except the mitral valve. It only has 2 flaps. The 4 heart valves are:. Pulmonary valve. The pulmonary valve is located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.

Mitral valve. This valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It has only 2 leaflets. As the heart muscle contracts and relaxes, the valves open and shut. This lets blood flow into the ventricles and atria at alternate times. Here is a step-by-step description of how the valves work normally in the left ventricle:.

When the left ventricle relaxes, the aortic valve closes and the mitral valve opens. This lets blood flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle. After the left ventricle contracts, the aortic valve closes and the mitral valve opens, to allow blood to flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle.

Subsequently, question is, what does a bad heart valve feel like? Some physical signs of heart valve disease can include: Chest pain or palpitations rapid rhythms or skips Shortness of breath, difficulty catching your breath, fatigue, weakness, or inability to maintain regular activity level.

Lightheadedness or loss of consciousness. As the heart muscle contracts and relaxes, the valves open and shut. This lets blood flow into the ventricles and atria at alternate times. When the left ventricle relaxes, the aortic valve closes and the mitral valve opens. This lets blood flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle. Heart conditions and other disorders, age-related changes, rheumatic fever, or infections can cause acquired heart valve disease. These factors change the shape or flexibility of once-normal heart valves.

The cause of congenital heart valve disease isn't known. Asked by: Enetz Tchekhanov medical health heart and cardiovascular diseases How do heart valves work? Last Updated: 23rd February, Your heart valves lie at the exit of each of your four heart chambers and maintain one-way blood flow through your heart.

These valves stop blood from flowing back into the ventricles. This pattern is repeated over and over with each heartbeat, causing blood to flow continuously to the heart , lungs, and body. Sofija Altenstrasser Professional. Which heart valve is most important? The aortic valve is the most common valve to be replaced. The mitral valve is the most common valve to be repaired. There are 4 valves in your heart:.

Aortic valve. Mitral valve. Tricuspid valve. Pulmonic valve. Walid Pokhodin Professional. What happens if there are no valves in the heart? If the valve does not open fully, it will obstruct or restrict the flow of blood. This is called valve stenosis or narrowing. This can put extra strain on your heart , making it pump harder to force the blood past the narrowing. If the valve does not close properly, it will allow blood to leak backwards. Sabrine Liborius Explainer. What does a heart valve look like?

The valves are made of strong, thin flaps of tissue called leaflets or cusps. The leaflets open to let blood move forward through the heart during half of the heartbeat.

They close to keep blood from flowing backward during the other half of the heartbeat. Bobby Scheinkonig Explainer. What are the four functions of the heart? The heart has four chambers:. However, any heart valve can be affected by valve disease. Stenosis — When valve openings are narrow or were not formed properly at birth, blood flow can be inhibited.

This causes the valve flaps to become stiff, thicken, or fuse together. The heart then must pump harder to help move through the stenotic valves. All valves can experience stenosis. Regurgitation — When valves do not close all the way, blood can flow backward. This is called regurgitation. Heart valve regurgitation and stenosis can occur together. When blood flow to and from and in the heart is affected, the heart can become weak and unable to pump blood effectively.

Heart valve disease is one of the main causes of heart failure. It can also lead to dangerous and even deadly arrhythmias.