What is the job of valves in heart?

The valves in the heart play a crucial role in ensuring the proper flow of blood and preventing backflow. There are four main heart valves: the mitral valve (or bicuspid valve), the aortic valve, the pulmonary valve, and the tricuspid valve. Each of these valves has specific functions:

1. Mitral Valve (Bicuspid Valve):

- Located between the left atrium and left ventricle.

- Prevents blood from flowing back from the left ventricle to the left atrium during ventricular contraction (systole).

2. Aortic Valve:

- Located between the left ventricle and the aorta, the main artery carrying oxygenated blood to the body.

- Prevents blood from flowing back from the aorta into the left ventricle during ventricular relaxation (diastole).

3. Pulmonary Valve:

- Situated between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, which carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs.

- Stops blood from flowing back into the right ventricle from the pulmonary artery during ventricular relaxation (diastole).

4. Tricuspid Valve:

- Found between the right atrium and right ventricle.

- Prevents blood from regurgitating back into the right atrium from the right ventricle during ventricular contraction (systole).

The heart valves are essential in maintaining the proper direction of blood flow within the heart and throughout the circulatory system. They ensure that blood flows from the atria to the ventricles and then to the arteries, preventing backward movement. Proper functioning of these valves is crucial for efficient blood circulation and overall cardiovascular health.