The valves of the heart allow unidirectional blood flow between the chambers and great vessels of the heart.

Figure 1. The valves of the heart.

Description

The heart is equipped with two sets of valves. These are the cuspid and semilunar valves.

  • The cuspid valves are found between the atria and ventricles (they are the atrioventricular valves).
  • The semilunar valves are found between the ventricles and the major vessels (aorta, and pulmonary trunk)

Cuspid valves

The cuspid valves are found between the atria and ventricles (atrioventricular valves).

The left atrioventricular valve has three cusps (hence, it is called tricuspid), while the right atrioventricular valve has two cusps (bicuspid or mitral valve, as it resembles a Bishop’s miter; see Figure 3).

  • On the right side (between the right atrium and ventricle) — tricuspid valves
  • On the left side (between the left atrium and ventricle) — bicuspid/mitral valve (mitral as it resembles a Bishop’s miter)
  • The valves consist of fibrous tissue covered by mesothelium.
  • They are attached to the rings of the

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