Question

What is the function of valves present in the heart?

Answer 1

Hint: The valves keep blood from flowing backwards. In fact, valves are flaps (leaflets) that serve as one-way blood inlets entering the ventricle and one-way blood outlets leaving the ventricle.

Complete Answer:
Four chambers, two upper chambers (the atrium) and two lower chambers are in the heart (ventricles). Prior to leaving the chamber of the heart, blood passes through the valve.
1. Tricuspid valve: This valve is positioned between the right atrium and the right atrium.
2. Pulmonary valve: Located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery
3. Mitral valve: This valve is situated between the left atrium and the left atrium. It's got just two leaflets.
4. Aortic valve: Located between the left ventricle and the aorta.

Function of valves:
When the muscle of the heart contracts and relaxes, the valves open and close. This allows blood to flow to the ventricles and atria at alternate times. Here's a step-by-step description of how the valves normally work in the left ventricle:

When the left ventricle is relaxed, the aortic valve is closed and the mitral valve is opened. This allows blood to flow from the left atrium to the left atrium.

The left atrium contracts. This allows even more blood to flow into the left ventricle.

The mitral valve closes when the left ventricle contracts and the aortic valve opens. This is so that blood flows in and out of the aorta to the rest of the body.

While the left ventricle relaxes, it also relaxes the right ventricle. This causes the closing of the pulmonary valve and opening of the tricuspid valve. This allows blood to flow from the body into the right ventricle, which is returned to the right atrium.

The right ventricle also contracts when the left ventricle contracts. This causes the opening of the pulmonary valve and closing of the tricuspid valve. Blood flows out into the lungs from the right ventricle before it is returned as fresh, oxygenated blood to the left atrium.

Note: The damage to the heart can be significant if heart valves fail to open and close properly. The damage can influence the ability of the heart to pump blood through the body.