Abstract
The heart is a dynamic living pump that has evolved in such a way that the whole organ functions as a holistic unit, which can adapt to the constantly changing demands of flow and pressure. Efficient function of this pump requires the presence of unidirectional valves. Nature has evolved valves that both operate under the highest pressure that the heart can generate and that also maintain the structural integrity of the muscle chambers that house them. Of all the cardiac valves, the mitral has the biggest task. It has to withstand the highest closing pressure and support the left ventricle, the powerhouse of the heart.
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Moorjani, N., Rana, B.S., Wells, F.C. (2018). Anatomy and Physiology of the Mitral Valve. In: Operative Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Surgery. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4204-1_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4204-1_1
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