10 Facts About Mitral valve

Mitral valve, known as the bicuspid valve or left atrioventricular valve, is one of the four heart valves.

The Mitral valve opens and closes because of pressure differences, opening when there is greater pressure in the left atrium than ventricle and closing when there is greater pressure in the left ventricle than atrium.

The mitral valve is named after the mitre of a bishop, which resembles its flaps.

The opening of the mitral valve is surrounded by a fibrous ring known as the mitral annulus.

In Carpentier's classification of a mitral valve, both the posterior and anterior mitral valve leaflets are divided into eight segments: P3, P2, P1, A3, A2, A1, PMC, ALC.

Microscopically, there is no evidence of an annular structure anteriorly, where the mitral valve leaflet is contiguous with the posterior aortic root.

Classic mitral valve prolapse is caused by an excess of connective tissue that thickens the spongiosa layer of the cusp and separates collagen bundles in the fibrosa.

Whereas, disease of the valve is categorized to primary mitral regurgitation or secondary mitral regurgitation based on the regurgitant etiology.

Mitral valve is often investigated using an ultrasound scan, which can reveal the size and flow of blood through the valve.

Mitral valve, viewed in a cadaver specimen from within the left atrium.