[Medical Q&A] Are there "doors and windows" inside the heart?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Chen Bingwei, deputy chief physician, Tianjin First Central Hospital

The heart is a very important organ for maintaining human life. As we all know, the heart has 4 "rooms" (left atrium, left ventricle, right atrium, right ventricle). In fact, the heart also has 4 "doors and windows", which refer to the heart valves. The normal functioning of the valves is essential to maintaining heart function.

The "door and window" between the left atrium and the left ventricle is the mitral valve, the "door and window" between the right atrium and the right ventricle is the tricuspid valve, the "door and window" between the left ventricle and the aorta (the artery from the left ventricle) is the aortic valve, and the "door and window" between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery (the artery from the right ventricle) is the pulmonary valve. The valves open and close in coordination with the contraction and relaxation of the heart. Under normal circumstances, blood can only flow in one direction. To ensure this one-way flow, the four "doors and windows" of the heart play a very important role. They are like "one-way valves" in a machine, which can only be opened in one direction. When the blood tries to flow in the opposite direction, the valve will close, thereby ensuring that the blood flows from the left atrium to the left ventricle, from the right atrium to the right ventricle, and that the blood in the left and right ventricles can only go out but not in. If the "doors and windows" are difficult to open, it means valve stenosis (such as mitral valve stenosis, etc.), which will lead to restricted blood flow; if the "doors and windows" are not closed tightly, it means valve regurgitation (such as aortic valve regurgitation, etc.), and the blood that flows out will flow back, which will increase the workload of the heart. These conditions will cause myocardial hypertrophy and even dilatation over time, and may eventually lead to heart failure. It should be noted that most of the "mild" valve regurgitation found in clinical practice is normal and there is no need to worry. Through examinations such as electrocardiogram and echocardiogram, doctors can evaluate valve function and choose appropriate treatment plans.