The aortic and the pulmonary valves are anatomical structures of high complexity . The assessment , and the treatment methodology is developed for the disorders of the two semilunar , tricuspid valves . The proper functioning mechanism of the semilunar valve is represented by the closed phase during systole , and the open one during diastole ( figure 1 ) . The valve stenosis is generated by the inability of the valve to open successfully . The regurgitation of the blood is caused by the incapacitation of the valve to close shut .
Figure 1 . The internal videoscopic view of the pulmonary valve in the reanimated human heart , sagittal superior ( a , b ) , sagital inferior ( c , d ) , in systole ( a , c ) , in diastole ( b , d ) . Copyright ( 2013 ) Springer .
The three dimensional arrangement of the pulmonary valve is maintained by the histological structure designed with the fibrosa , the spongiosa , and The Nodulus Arantii ( figure 2 ) . The mean value for the annular diameter of the pulmonary valve is 25 . 4 ± 3 . 2 ( N = 3997 ) , and the mean value for the aortic valve is 22 . 4 ± 2 . 7 ( N = 3370 ) .
Figure 2 . The idealised three - dimensional structure of the semilunar valve . Copyright ( 2013 ) Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research .
The surgery on the pulmonary valve presents less risk because the pressure gradient across the valve is low , comparing to the one for the aortic valve . Both the pulmonary and the aortic valve have similar dimensions , with slightly different material properties ( figure 3 ) . The pulmonary valve is considered as autograft replacement for the aortic valve in some patients with congenital heart disorders .
Figure 3 . The name of the leaflets for the semilunar valves . Copyright ( 2013 ) Springer .
Four of the 3861 hearts analysed by The European Homograft Bank have the pulmonary valve with two leaflets . Eight of the 109571 autopsies present an aneurysm of the pulmonary artery . A patient with both these conditions may have had
an anomaly in the embryonic development .
References :
Batesman M . G . , Hill A . J . , Quill J . L . , Iaizzo P . A . ( 2013 ) “ The clinical anatomy and pathology of the human arterial valves : implications for repair or replacement ” , Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research , 6 ( 2 ) , 166 - 175 .
Capps S . B . , Elkins R . C . , Fronk D . M . ( 2000 ) “ Body surface area as a predictor of aortic and pulmonary valve diameter ” , The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery , 119 , 975 - 982 .
Iaizzo P . A . , Bianco R . W . , Hill A . J . , Louis J . D . S . ( 2013 ) “ Heart valves : from design to clinical implantation ” , Springer , part I . 2 , 27 - 45 .
