Heart Valves
Four types of valves regulate blood flow through your heart that act like ‘gates’ that open and close,
making sure that blood travels in one direction through the heart.
- The tricuspid valve regulates blood flow between the right atrium and right ventricle.
- The pulmonary valve controls blood flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary arteries, which carry blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen.
- The mitral valve lets oxygen-rich blood from the lungs pass from the left atrium into the left ventricle.
- The aortic valve opens the way for oxygen-rich blood to pass from the left ventricle into the aorta, the body’s largest artery, where it is delivered to the rest of the body.