MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia:Heart valve surgery

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Heart valve surgery - series: Normal anatomy

Heart valve surgery - seriesIllustrations:

Normal anatomy

There are four valves in the heart: aortic valve, mitral valve, tricuspid valve, and pulmonary valve. The valves are designed to control the direction of blood flow through the heart. The opening and closing of the heart valves produce the heart-beat sounds.

Update Date: 8/21/2006

Updated by: John A. Daller, MD, PhD., Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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