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Home / Heart Disease / The Four Valves of the Heart Explained
Leaking Heart Valve

The Four Valves of the Heart Explained

August 5, 2015 by Dr. Mustafa Ahmed 19 Comments

What Is a Heart Valve?

A valve basically lets something go one way but not the other. In this case, that “something” is blood. So, the valves of the heart allow blood to go forward but not leak backwards. This is important because when the heart pumps, it pushes blood forward to the body where it is needed. The valves of the heart make sure this oxygen-rich blood can’t leak backwards into the heart.

Properly Functioning Heart Valve

Properly Functioning Heart Valve

What Are the 4 Valves of the Heart?

There are 4 valves of the heart, 2 on the left side and 2 on the right side. The left side of the heart can be thought of as the hearts powerful engine. Each side of the heart has a collecting chamber on top (atrium), and a pumping chamber on the bottom (ventricle). There is a valve between the upper and lower chamber, and there is a valve between the lower pumping chamber and the body.

Four Chambers

Left-Sided Valves

The valve between the upper (left atrium) and lower chambers (left ventricle) on the left hand side is called the mitral valve. The valve between the lower pumping chamber (left ventricle) and the body is called the aortic valve.

Right-Sided Valves. The valve between the upper (right atrium) and the lower chambers (right ventricle) on the right hand side is called the tricuspid valve. The right lower pumping chamber (right ventricle) pumps blood into the arteries of the lungs. The valve between the right lower pumping chamber (right ventricle) and the arteries of the lungs is called the pulmonic valve.

Common Problems Associated with Heart Valves

Leakiness of Heart Valves

If you remember, the valves of the heart are there to stop blood leaking backward, allowing blood to go forward where it is needed. Leakiness of heart valves is known as regurgitation. For example leakiness of the mitral valve is called mitral regurgitation, commonly solved with procedures like the MitraClip.

The degree of leakiness is usually graded as trivial, mild, moderate, or severe. Trivial or mild leakiness is common and generally of no significance. Moderate leakiness does not usually cause a problem but does need an eye kept on it to make sure it doesn’t progress into severe leakiness over time. Severe leakiness may cause problems and need surgery or another procedure to fix it.

Leaking Heart Valve

Heart Valve with Regurgitation

Why is Severe Valve Leakiness Bad?

Severe leakiness of heart valves causes 2 main problems. First, it allows blood to leak backward placing increased stresses on the chamber into which the blood is leaking, leading to enlarged chambers. Secondly, since the blood is leaking backward and not forward where it is needed, there may not be enough blood going forward causing a chain effect within the heart. Taken together, this can lead to signs and symptoms of heart failure. Regurgitation can affect all 4 valves of the heart.

Tightening of Heart Valves

Heart valves allow blood to go forward but not leak backwards. When the valves become too tight it is known as stenosis. For example, tightness of the aortic valve is known as aortic stenosis. Stenosis is usually classified as mild, moderate or severe. Mild and moderate stenoses are not usually of significance and need no specific treatment. Severe stenosis can be a serious issue however and may need a procedure or an operation to fix it.

Why is Severe Tightening of the Heart Valves Important?

If the valve is too tight, the heart will have to work harder to pump blood through the heart, a stress that will eventually cause it to burn out. Also, since the valve is tight, not enough blood can go forward to meet the bodies needs. This can lead to heart enlargement and signs and symptoms of heart failure. Stenosis can also affect all 4 valves of the heart.

How Do Doctors Assess Heart Valves?

Heart Murmurs

When patients have heart valves that are too leaky or tight, the heart makes sounds known as heart murmurs than can be picked up by the use of a stethoscope. All 4 valves of the heart make different patterns when they are diseased, and recognition of these patterns often allow doctors to identify the diseased valves. When murmurs are discovered, patients will often be sent for a heart scan known as an echocardiogram.

Echocardiogram

Echocardiograms are ultrasound scans of the heart that are able to accurately assess the functioning of the four valves of the heart. They are the test that we used to diagnose problems with heart valves, and also to tell us how severe the problem is. Echocardiograms are also very useful in telling us how the heart is functioning as a whole.

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Filed Under: Heart Disease, Heart Valves

Comments

  1. Mary says

    October 21, 2016 at 4:52 am

    I posted a question on another article recently about moderate tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonic stenosis. You very graciously replied with a great deal of information. This website has been a great resource, I have learned so much. Are there any articles on pulmonic stenosis or pulmonary valve repair or replacement? I am searching for a cardiologist in my area with experience in this area. It’s like chasing a unicorn. My doctor isnt even sure who to refer me to. Are these procedures fairly uncommon? Are there resources available that I am not seeing in a general Web search? Maybe surgery will come in 6 months, maybe more, maybe less. At any rate, for my own sanity I want to find a surgeon i can trust before that and start building a relationship . My previous heart surgeon has retired and I struggle to trust someone new.

    Reply
    • Dr. Mustafa Ahmed says

      October 21, 2016 at 5:04 am

      Ill write one in the near future for you. In most cases of pulmonic stenosis, the treatment can be done via catheter without the need for open surgery.

      Reply
      • Mary says

        October 21, 2016 at 12:00 pm

        Thank you so much!!!! Just knowing that is a huge relief.

        Reply
  2. Ann Agostin says

    December 17, 2016 at 1:54 am

    Your information is so well presented and for a layman like me, thorough. Thank you for this educational site.

    Reply
  3. Kay beard says

    July 15, 2017 at 2:12 pm

    Iwas diagnosed with leaky heat valve had bloods done but awaiting results but at mo Iam tired unenergetic and cold all the time lightheaded so what do I do wait to see my doctor or seek further help

    Reply
    • Dr. Mustafa Ahmed says

      July 18, 2017 at 2:58 am

      What was the valve, how leaky was it? Of course if you are worried please seek care.

      Reply
  4. Anna Redman says

    August 29, 2017 at 5:57 pm

    What does it mean if you have been told that the pumping chambers of my heart are not stretched . However from the echo it shows the right sided collecting chamber is considerably stretched
    Thank you. .. should I be worried

    Reply
    • Dr. Mustafa Ahmed says

      August 31, 2017 at 5:11 am

      It means the echo report is wrong, one of the two is right and the conclusion is contradicting the reading. Ask the reporting office to clarify.

      If you are interested in information and therapy for heart disease then feel free to follow my twitter at @MustafaAhmedMD

      Reply
  5. Nitin says

    March 8, 2018 at 8:13 am

    Sir I have mild AML prolapse and trivial MR and first degree Av block is it to worry is there is problem in doing exercise and running or there is chance of getting scenarios worst

    Reply
    • Dr. Mustafa Ahmed says

      March 11, 2018 at 4:50 am

      Unless told otherwise by the treating dr, the features you mentioned are by themselves not a good reason to prevent exercise.

      Reply
      • Nitin says

        May 13, 2018 at 8:15 am

        Sir means i should stop exercising

        Reply
  6. Gina Maybee says

    April 23, 2018 at 2:58 am

    Informative site. I have been diagnosed with both aortic and tricuspid regurgitation. I am trying to educate myself and also find out if my occasional gasps for air while awake have anything to do with this. Thanks again for this site.

    Reply
  7. Alexandra Margolies says

    May 31, 2018 at 6:00 pm

    My mother is diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis. should she have TAVR procedure?
    She is 88 years old.

    Any recommendations?

    Reply
    • Dr. Mustafa Ahmed says

      June 4, 2018 at 6:01 am

      At the age of 88, and severe aortic stenosis, (if symptomatic) the TAVR would be recommended over any surgical approach.

      you can follow our twitter at @MustafaAhmedMD

      Reply
  8. John A. Szeker says

    July 11, 2018 at 3:53 pm

    My cardiologist recently told me I have 3 leaky heart valves – I had 2 stents put in about 13 years ago and a pacemaker 3 years ago – I also have occasional a fib – will I be getting close to congestive heart failure? I am a white mail 85 years old – 5’10” – 160 lbs – thank you

    Reply

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