The Heart Valves
| The AV valves allow blood to
flow from the atria to the ventricles, but not in the reverse direction. The right
AV valve is called the tricuspid valve, the left is called the mitral valve. The pulmonary valve permits blood to flow from the right ventricles into the pulmonary artery, and the aortic valve permits blood to flow from the left ventricle into the aorta. These valves allow blood to flow during ventricular contraction but prevent blood from moving in the opposite direction during ventricular relaxation. The opening and closing of all these valves occurs passively, due to pressure differences across them. |