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Aortic regurgitation: A defect of the valve located at the offspring of the Aorta from the heart. As a result of this valvular defect, leakage of blood from the Aorta back to the left ventricle during the diastole takes place. In severe cases symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain and enlargement of the heart, can develop. If necessary, surgical treatment is applied.
Aortic stenosis: Narrowing of the valve between the outlet of the left ventricle and the Aorta.
This is the most frequent Valvular disease. Because the stenosis makes blood flow from the left ventricle into the Aorta more difficult, the voiding of the left ventricle is impaired. This may cause symptoms of Angina Pectoris, shortness of breath during exertion and fainting. On heart auscultation, a murmur during the systole is heard, which ensues because of the compromised blood flow through the narrow valve.
Aortic valve: The Aortic valve is located at the outlet of the Aorta and delimits the Aorta from the left ventricle.

The Aortic valve enables passage of blood through it into the Aorta during systole, the phase of contraction of the left ventricle.

During diastole, when the ventricle is relaxed and the pressure in it decreases, there is risk of reverse blood flow from the Aorta (because the pressure therein is higher) into the left ventricle. The Aortic valve is here to prevent such back flow.

In instances when the valve is damaged or does not close properly, leakage into the left ventricle (regurgitation) can occur. Such leak reduces the amount of blood pumped into the Aorta on the one hand and constitutes an additional load for the left ventricle on the other hand .
Heart attack: see entry Myocardial infarction.
Heart murmur: An abnormal sound perceived while auscultation (listening to) the heart. This sound is produced by any disturbance in blood flow, for example when blood flows through a narrow opening or when flow turbulences exist. Conditions causing such disturbances are usually associated with valvular defects or defects in the septum dividing the two cardiac parts, the left and the right part. Sometimes, particularly in children, murmurs can be heard even if no anatomical defects are present. Murmurs are divided in systolic and diastolic murmurs, according to the phase of the heart action during which it is auscultated, the systole or the diastole, respectively.
Mitral regurgitation: Defective Mitral valve, which is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle of the heart. As a result of this defect in the valvular closure, leakage from the left ventricle to the left atrium is present during systole Symptoms may include breathing difficulties and rhythm disturbances. The treatment, depending on severity, is surgical.
Mitral stenosis: Narrowing of the Mitral valve located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. Resulting from this narrowing, impaired blood flow is encountered during the diastole from the atrium to the ventricle.
On cardiac auscultation, a diastolic murmur is perceived.

Symptoms are usually associated with blood congestion in the atrium (due to more difficult voiding) and they include shortness of breath as well as rhythm disturbances due to anatomical changes of the atrium and more.

If necessary, surgical treatment is applied: dilation of the narrowed valve or its replacement.
Mitral valve: The Mitral valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle.

Its task is enabling blood flow from the atrium into the ventricle during the contraction of the atria, but it also must prevent back flow into the atrium during the ventricular systole, when the ventricular pressure mounts markedly.

Insufficiency of the mitral valve causes back flow to the atrium, thereby excess load for the atrium and even blood return to the lungs.
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP, Barlow’s syndrome): An anatomical defect of the Mitral valve, causing prolapse of one of the valvular leaflets towards the atrium during closure.

It is a frequent disorder, with increased frequency of appearance in women at age 20 to 40, with a hereditary component.

Most often, the structural defect is unnoticed and is detected incidentally, but sometimes it can cause leakage during valvular closure (Mitral regurgitation).
Operation for the correction /replacement of a valve: Several surgical options for the correction of damaged cardiac valves exist. Valvular replacement will be usually performed if the functional impairment of the Aortic or Mitral valve is severe.

There are two kinds of valvular prostheses:

1.Mechanical valves - made of materials such as plastic, carbon or metal. They are durable and resistant for extensive periods. Because blood tends to stick to these materials and create blood clots around them, people who underwent implantation of such valves must take anticoagulants for lifetime.

2.Biological valves - made of animal or human tissues. They are less resistant than mechanical valves, but do not require use of anticoagulants.

Usually, they must be replaced approximately every 10 years.
Pulmonary stenosis: Narrowing of the Pulmonary valve. This may be often associated with other heart defects. The ensuing impairment is in blood flow from the right atrium into the Pulmonary artery during systole. A systolic murmur ensues.

Because there is impaired blood flow into the lungs, symptoms will usually be such of insufficient oxygenation of tissues, resulting in cyanosis, weakness, fainting etc. The solution of the problem is surgical correction.
Pulmonary valve: This valve is located between the right ventricle and the outlet of the Pulmonary artery.

It should stay widely open during the ventricular systole to enable voiding of the right ventricle into the Pulmonary artery.

During diastole, when pressure in the ventricle decreases, this valve must be closed to prevent back flow (regurgitation) of blood from the pulmonary artery in the direction of the ventricle.
Pulmonic regurgitation: Abnormal blood flow through the Pulmonic valve during the diastole. The direction of leak is from the Pulmonary artery back to the right atrium during the diastole.
Semilunar valve: This is the name of the valves located at the outlet of the great vessels: the Aorta and the Pulmonary artery.
Tricuspid regurgitation: Abnormal systolic blood flow through the Tricuspid valve, which is located between the right ventricle and the right atrium. During the systole, the Tricuspid valve should be completely closed to enable the contracting right ventricle the voiding of its blood content only into the Pulmonary artery without being returned to the right atrium. The symptoms can include edema, general weakness, tiredness etc. The treatment, depending on severity, is surgical
Tricuspid stenosis: Narrowing of the valve located between the right atrium and the right ventricle. As a result of the stenosis, there is difficulty in voiding of the right atrium into the right ventricle during diastole. On cardiac auscultation, a diastolic murmur is perceived. Symptoms reflect overload of the right atrium.

The solution of the problem is surgery.
Tricuspid valve: The valve is located between the right atrium and the right ventricle.

Its task is enabling free blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle, but preventing back flow in the opposite direction during the ventricular systole, when the pressure in the ventricle mounts.
Valve: A structure in a blood vessel enabling blood flow in only one direction. The valves are built of a kind of pockets, which are approximated to the wall and thus blood flow is enabled as long as pressure holds the "pockets" open.

But when blood flow is attempted in the opposite, undesired, direction, the "pockets" fill with blood, close the opening and preclude such flow.
Valve regurgitation: A condition occurring when the closure of a cardiac valve is disturbed. The function of the valves is preventing blood flow in undesired direction across a pressure gradient. When the closure is partial or incomplete, blood flow in undesired direction is enabled and this condition can cause symptoms or disease. The kind of symptoms depends on the location of the valve, on its function and on the severity of its functional disturbance.
Valve stenosis: A situation, in which the opening of a cardiac valve is not complete and thereby the passage of blood through it is impaired.
Blood flow through a narrowed valve is usually manifested by a murmur, which can be heard during the phase when blood is flowing through the valve.

Clinical symptoms depend on the severity grade of the stenosis.

Usually, the cardiac compartment that must push blood through the stenosed valve is overloaded with work and the increased burden can cause structural changes of the affected compartment.

In addition, symptoms of congestion and edema may be present because of incomplete voiding.

If necessary, surgical correction is performed.

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