Heart Information

• Home
• About Us
• Chest Information
• Heart Information
  • How The Heart Works
    • Pumping Action
    • Blood Supply
    • Electrical System
    • Heart Valves
  • Living With Heart Conditions
  • Tests And Investigations
  • Treatments
  • Reducing Your Risk Of Heart Disease
  • Where To Get Help
  • Suggested Book List
  • Heart Glossary
  • Heart Links
• Stroke Information
• Advice Line
• Publications and DVDs
• Community Support
• Fundraising
• Education, Training and Funding Applications
• Voices Scotland
• Research
• Volunteering
• Health Professionals
• Stroke Chat Scotland

You are in: Home > Heart Information > How The Heart Works > Heart Valves

Heart Valves

The movement of blood through the heart is regulated by a system of valves which ensure that the blood flows in the correct direction.

There are four valves:

• Aortic valve
• Mitral valve
• Pulmonary valve
• Tricuspid valve

What can go wrong with the valves?

The heart cannot function normally if the valves are not working properly. There are two main ways that the valves can be affected:

• Valves can leak: called valve regurgitation (sometimes called valve incompetence)
• Valves can narrow and stiffen: called valve stenosis

See Heart valve problems for more information.

Back to top