Mitral Valve: Difference between revisions

The mitral valve consists of two valve leaflets, the anterior leaflet (AMVL) and the posterior leaflet (PMVL), which together have a surface of 4 - 6 cm². Via chordae tendineae, small tendons which ensure that the leaflets do not prolapse, the valve leaflets are attached to two major papillary muscles (anterolateral en posteromedial) in the left ventricle.

!Top view of the normal heart showing the coronary arteries and four valves including the mitral valve with its anterior (A) and posterior (P) leaflets<cite>1</cite>

The mitral valve is bringing many scan faces in pictures: PLAX, PSAXmv, AP4Ch, AP5Ch, AP2Ch, AP3Ch and subcostal4Ch. Mitral valvular insufficiency should be considered in all views. When significant abnormalities of the mitral valve are suspected, TEE (particularly 3D TEE) can assist in assessing the severity.

The two leaflets are divided into a total of six scallops: A1, A2, A3 (anterior) and P1, P2, P3 (posterior).

!Annular dilatation

*Left atrial dilatation

!Degenerative disease

Mitral valve insufficiency (MI) may result in left-sided congestive heart failure. An MI results in back flow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium. This may eventually result in pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary edema. Pulmonary edema is manifested by shortness of breath, initially with exertion, but later at rest, orthopnea and nocturnal dyspnea attacks. On physical examination, pulmonary edema can be detected by fine crackles, particularly in the dorsobasale lung fields. Increasing left atrial pressure and dimension may cause atrial fibrillation.