Cusps of heart valves

Cusps of heart valves
File:Gray495.png
Base of ventricles exposed by removal of the atria. (Valves visible on top of heart.)
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Aorta laid open to show the semilunar valves. (Note that captions don't align with current terminology.)

The cusps of the heart valves serve to seal the heart valves when closed. There are three cusps for each valve except for the mitral valve, which has only two (hence its alternate name, "bicuspid valve").

"Nodules" are located at the tip of the valve, to form a tighter seal.

Semilunar valves

• pulmonary valve
  • "right cusp"
  • "left cusp"
  • "anterior cusp"

Nowhere in the literature does it describe the echocardiographic location of each pulmonary valve. According to researcher and professor Dr. Paul Michael, in the RVOT view the anterior and right cusps can be viewed.

• aortic valve. (Note that one is absent in the condition bicuspid aortic valve.)
  • "right cusp"
  • "left cusp"
  • "posterior cusp" (or "noncoronary cusp")

Atrioventricular valves

• tricuspid valve- right av
  • "anterior cusp" (or "infundibular cusp")
  • "posterior cusp" (or "marginal cusp")
  • "septal cusp" (or "medial cusp")

• mitral valve - left av
  • "anterior cusp"
  • "posterior cusp"

Additional images

• Heart short axis aorta.svg

  Heart short axis aorta

• Heart valves.png

  Cusps of heart valves

External links

• SUNY Figs 20:07-00 - "Valves of the heart."