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U-M Health SystemThis information is approved and/or reviewed by U-M Health System providers but it is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for medical treatment. You should speak to your physician or make an appointment to be seen if you have questions or concerns about this information or your medical condition.
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Thumbnail image of: Heart: Illustration

UMHS Related Site:
University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center

Heart Valve Diseases

The filling and pumping chambers on each side of the heart are separated by one-way valves. These four valves each have two or three tissue flaps called leaflets that act as doors which open and close to ensure that blood flows only in the proper direction.

Left Side Valves
mitral valve: between the left atrium (filling chamber) and the left ventricle (pumping chamber)

aortic valve: between the left ventricle and the aorta (a large artery that takes blood to the rest of the body)

Right Side Valves
tricuspid valve: between the right atrium (filling chamber) and the right ventricle (pumping chamber)

pulmonic valve: between the right ventricle and vessels leading to the lungs Valve problems present from birth are called congenital malformations. Other valve deformities are not acquired until later in life. Conditions such as an infection can invade or damage the vaIve leaflets or doors. The natural aging process may weaken already damaged valve leaflets or harden normal valve tissue.

Valve problems produce many symptoms. Faulty heart valves can cause dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, irregular heart beats, fluid buildup, strokes and heart attacks. Tests such as an echocardiogram or a cardiac catheterization can show if heart valves are damaged or not functioning properly.

UMHS Related Topics:

Illustration of Normal and Diseased Heart Valves
Surgical Valvuloplasty
Heart Valve Replacement
Heart (cardiac) catheterization
Echocardiogram


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