Viscera (heart, lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract)
Aortic valve
Valva aortae
- Origin
- Located at the aortic root between the left ventricular outflow tract and ascending aorta; comprises three semilunar cusps: left coronary, right coronary, and non-coronary cusp
- Insertion
- Fibrous aortic annulus; the left and right coronary arteries originate from the corresponding aortic sinuses of Valsalva
- Function
- Prevents regurgitant flow from the systemic circulation into the left ventricle during diastole and facilitates coronary blood flow filling
- Innervation
- Passive fibroelastic structures modulated by transaortic hemodynamics
- Movement & chain
- Opens during left ventricular ejection and closes sharply at end-systole, generating the aortic component of the second heart sound (A2)
- Palpation
- Auscultated at the 2nd right intercostal space parasternal border and Erb's point (3rd left intercostal space)
- Clinical
- Aortic stenosis (calcific degeneration or bicuspid valve, classic triad: angina, syncope, dyspnea; harsh ejection systolic murmur radiating to carotids), aortic regurgitation (wide pulse pressure, collapsing pulse, diastolic decrescendo murmur), infective endocarditis.
- Segmental innervation
- T1-T4 cardiac spinal segments
- In clinical practice
- Cardiovascular assessment for murmurs radiating to carotids, monitoring pre/post TAVI and surgical valve replacement, anticoagulant management for mechanical prostheses
- Region in the model
- Viscera (heart, lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract)