Different functions of the 4 heart valves

The article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Nguyen Tung Hoanh - Interventional Cardiologist - Department of Resuscitation - Emergency - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

The circulatory system in the heart is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. In particular, the heart valves are responsible for circulating and carrying oxygen-rich blood through the heart chambers to other organs. The following article will learn the function of the 4 heart valves and explain the causes of some common heart valve diseases.

The normal heart has 4 chambers: 2 upper chambers (two atria) and 2 lower chambers (2 ventricles). Between these chambers are structures that ensure that blood flows in one direction, called valves. While the atria receive blood from the veins back to the heart and pump it down the ventricles, the ventricles pump blood out of the heart and into the arteries.
In general, a normal heart has 4 heart valve structures that ensure blood flow in a physiological cycle, specifically:
Aortic valve: Helps blood flow in one direction from the left ventricle to the aorta (the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body). Pulmonary valve: Helps blood flow in only one direction from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery and enhances oxygen exchange in the lungs. Tricuspid valve: Located on the right side of the heart, it is responsible for allowing blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle. Mitral valve: Located on the left side of the heart, it is responsible for controlling blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. In particular, the tricuspid and mitral valves are attached to the ventricles by special muscle and ligament columns that help control the action of the heart valves.

The heart valve system is a complex structure that ensures blood flow between the chambers of the heart according to a certain process. Normally, the four heart valves have a slender, soft structure, made up of heart valve leaflets, and are fixed by ligaments and muscle columns. However, if, for some reason, these leaflets become thickened, adherent, inflamed or calcified (such as in rheumatic heart disease) or the ligaments that hold the valve in place are prolapsed, broken (as in heart attack) will make these valves unable to open and close normally, leading to heart valve diseases:
When the heart valves become thicker and stiffer, or stick the valve edges together, causing limiting the ability of heart valves to open, obstructing blood flow... is called valvular stenosis (mitral stenosis, tricuspid valve stenosis). When the heart valves do not close tightly due to dilation, adhesion, shrinkage, degeneration or too long valvular ligaments ... push back the blood flow during valve closure is called regurgitation. Note: Both types of lesions are often combined. The above lesions can occur in all 4 heart valves, may be due to congenital or acquired causes. Some people with valvular heart disease from birth should have their valves repaired or replaced at an early age. Injury to the heart valves (whether stenosis or regurgitation) can cause hemodynamic disturbances (also called dysregulation of blood flow), leading to mild to severe disease.
Causes of valvular heart disease can include
Congenital factors (valvular prolapse). Damage caused by infection ( infective endocarditis ) Due to myocardial infarction , atherosclerosis . Due to heart failure due to hypertension, peripartum cardiomyopathy, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy... The heart valves, despite their durable and persistent operation, can also be damaged by infections or diseases. other reason. When the heart valve is damaged, the blood pumping function will be less effective, the heart has to work harder to pump oxygen-rich blood to nourish the body, leading to heart failure, causing shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue and edema due to water retention. If these symptoms are present, the patient may need to consider angioplasty, valve repair, or prosthetic valve replacement.
Cardiovascular Center of Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the leading centers with a team of experts Professor, Doctor, Specialist 2, Master in experience and prestige in treatment. internal medicine, surgery, interventional cardiac catheterization and application of advanced techniques in cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment. In particular, the Center has modern equipment, on par with the most prestigious hospitals in the world. The Center has a comprehensive cooperation program with the Heart Institute - Bach Mai Hospital, the Cardiology Department of Hanoi Medical University, Paris Decartes University - Georges Pompidou Hospital (France), the University of Pennsylvania (USA). continuously update the treatment regimen to achieve high results.