Medtronic Lawsuit Attorneys, Williams Kherkher

Heart Valves

The heart valves are valves in the heart that maintain the one directional flow of blood. They open and close depending on the difference in pressure on each side. The mechanical equivalent of a heart valve is a reed valve.

There are four valves of the heart, not including the inferior vena cava’s valve or the coronary sinus valve. There are two atrioventricular (AV) valves which ensure that bloods flows from the atria to the ventricles and not backwards. There are also two semilunar (SL) valves which are present to keep blood leaving the heart from flowing from the arteries into the ventricles.

The sound of the heart valves opening and closing gives the heart its sound.

The mitral valve is also known as the bicuspid valve. It gets its name from its resemblance to a bishop’s mitre, or hat. It prevents blood from flowing from the left ventricle into the left atrium. It is on the left side of the heart and has two cusps. Rheumatic fever can cause a thickening and stenosis of the mitral valve.

The tricuspid valve is located on the right side of the heart. It is between the right atrium and the right ventricle. It stops the blood from flowing back between the two.

The aortic valve is between the left ventricle and the aorta. The aortic valve has three cusps. During ventricular systole, pressure increases in the left ventricle. When the pressure in the left ventricle is above that of the aorta, the aortic valve opens. This allows the blood to exit the left ventricle and enter the aorta.

The most common congenital abnormality in the heart is the bicuspid aortic valve. In this congenital defect, instead of three cusps, the aortic valve has two cusps. This is frequently undiagnosed until the person develops calcific aortic stenosis. Aortic stenosis occurs in patients in the 40s or 50s who have this condition. This is an average of more than 10 years earlier than in people with normal aortic valves.

The pulmonic valve is between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. It has three cusps.

Contact the Medtronic Lawsuit Attorneys

If you have been given a Medtronic defibrillator to combat your heart arrhythmia, contact the Medtronic lawsuit attorneys of Williams Kherkher at 800-761-3187 to discuss your case and to schedule an initial consultation.