Understanding how the heart functions may help you feel more in control of managing your behaviors. The information offered is from the American Heart Association:
Tricuspid Valve
- Closes off the upper right chamber (or atrium) that holds blood coming in from the body.
- Opens to allow blood to flow from the top right chamber to the lower right chamber (or from right atrium to right ventricle).
- Prevents the back flow of blood from the ventricle to the atrium when blood is pumped out of the ventricle.
Pulmonary Valve (or Pulmonic Valve)
- Closes off the lower right chamber (or right ventricle).
- Opens to allow blood to be pumped from the heart to the lungs (through the pulmonary artery) where it will receive oxygen.
Mitral Valve
- Closes off the upper left chamber (or left atrium) collecting the oxygen-rich blood coming in from the lungs.
- Opens to allow blood to pass from the upper left side to the lower left side (or from the left atrium to the left ventricle).
Aortic Valve
- Closes off the lower left chamber that holds the oxygen-rich blood before it is pumped out to the body.
- Opens to allow blood to leave the heart (from the left ventricle to the aorta and on to the body).
