OnXLTI Heart Valve product group - prosthetic hearts valves that rival tissues valves
On-X LTI company information
prosthetic heart valve
cardiac surgery
pyrolytic carbon
Patient Web Guide

How Does the Heart Work?

Figure 1. Interior of the heart1

How the heart works: the interior of the heart

The four heart valves are:

  1. Aortic Valve – Located between the left ventricle and the aorta (the main artery of the body). It prevents backflow of blood into the left ventricle.
  2. Mitral Valve – Located between the left atrium and left ventricle. It prevents backflow of blood into the left atrium.
  3. Pulmonary Valve – Located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery (the artery leading to the lungs). It prevents backflow of blood into the right ventricle.
  4. Tricuspid Valve – Located between the right atrium and the right ventricle. It prevents backflow of blood into the right atrium.

This figure is reproduced with special permission from the artist, Vincent Perez, and Barcharts, Inc., Quick Study, The Heart, Interior Heart © 2001

www.perezstudio.com/home.html and www.barcharts.com


return to The Heart »