Home      Discussion      Topics      Dictionary      Almanac
Signup       Login
Tricuspid valve

Tricuspid valve

Discussion
Ask a question about 'Tricuspid valve'
Start a new discussion about 'Tricuspid valve'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum
 
Encyclopedia
The tricuspid valve (also known as the right atrioventricular valve) is on the right side of the heart, between the right atrium
Right atrium
The right atrium is one of four chambers in the human heart. It receives deoxygenated blood from the superior and inferior vena cava and the coronary sinus, and pumps it into the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve...

 and the right ventricle
Right ventricle
The right ventricle is one of four chambers in the human heart. It receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium via the tricuspid valve, and pumps it into the pulmonary artery via the pulmonary valve and pulmonary trunk....

. The normal tricuspid valve usually has three leaflets and three papillary muscles. They are connected to the papillary muscles by the chordae tendineae
Chordae tendineae
The chordae tendineae, or heart strings, are cord-like tendons that connect the papillary muscles to the tricuspid valve and the mitral valve in the heart....

, which lie in the right ventricle. Tricuspid valves may also occur with two or four leaflets, and the number may change during life.

Pathology


Tricuspid regurgitation
Regurgitation (circulation)
Regurgitation is blood flow in the opposite direction from normal, as the backward flowing of blood into the heart or between heart chambers. Can be categorized by:...

 is not uncommon in the tricuspid valve. It is a common valve to be infected (endocarditis
Endocarditis
Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart, the endocardium. It usually involves the heart valves . Other structures which may be involved include the interventricular septum, the chordae tendinae, the mural endocardium, or even on intracardiac devices...

) in IV drug users. Although it is not a common site of endocarditis, patients with a small VSD usually develop endocarditis of the tricuspid valve.

The tricuspid valve can be affected by rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that may develop two to three weeks after a Group A streptococcal infection . It is believed to be caused by antibody cross-reactivity and can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain...

, which can cause tricuspid stenosis or tricuspid insufficiency
Tricuspid insufficiency
Tricuspid insufficiency , a valvular heart disease also called tricuspid regurgitation , refers to the failure of the heart's tricuspid valve to close properly during systole...

 (also called tricuspid regurgitation).
Some patients are born with congenital abnormalities of the tricuspid valve. Congenital apical displacement of the tricuspid valve is called Ebstein's anomaly
Ebstein's anomaly
Ebstein's anomaly is a congenital heart defect in which the opening of the tricuspid valve is displaced towards the apex of the right ventricle of the heart.-Presentation:...

 and typically causes significant tricuspid regurgitation.

The first endovascular tricuspid valve implant was performed by physicians at the Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic
The Cleveland Clinic is a multispecialty academic medical center located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States...

.

External links