Understanding Heart Valves
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| The valve closes to stop blood from leaking back. |
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| The valve opens to let blood move forward. |
The heart contains four valves. The valves open and close to keep blood moving in the right direction through the heart. As the heart beats, blood moves through it. With each squeeze, the valves open and close to keep blood moving forward. In this way, valves keep blood moving as efficiently as possible through the heart.
Publication Source:
Fulerton DA, Harken AH, Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, 18th ed., Chapter 62 – Acquired Heart Disease: Valvular, 2008, pp 1834-1845
Date Last Reviewed:
9/15/2007
Date Last Modified:
6/7/2006