How the Heart Works
Change text size
Heart Valves
Four valves in the heart keep blood flowing in the proper direction through the heart, lungs and into the body. The valves are thin, flexible flaps of tissue attached to the heart muscle.
Two of the valves, the atrioventricular valves, regulate the flow of blood from the atria to the ventricles. The tricuspid valve is located on the right side of the heart, and the mitral valve is located on the left.
The other two valves regulate the flow of blood from the ventricles to the lungs and body. From the right ventricle, the blood is pumped through the pulmonary valve to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen and gets rid of waste products such as carbon dioxide. From the left ventricle, blood is pumped through the aortic valve to all parts of the body.
Valve Replacement Surgery may be required if these valves stop functioning properly.