Bicuspid aortic valve

For the bicuspid valve (left atrioventricular valve), see Mitral valve.
Bicuspid aortic valve
Other namesBicommissural aortic valve[1]
The aortic valve controls outflow of blood from the left ventricle of the heart through the aorta (valve is indicated within the yellow highlighted box). A normal aortic valve is tricuspid. Five types of bicuspid valve are shown, with Type 1 being most prevalent. A bicuspid valve forms when the tissue surrounding one of the cusps (leaflets) of the valve fuses during fetal development. This developmental anomaly can have either a negative or no effect on the individual.
SpecialtyCardiology

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a form of heart disease in which two of the leaflets of the aortic valve fuse during development in the womb resulting in a two-leaflet (bicuspid) valve instead of the normal three-leaflet (tricuspid) valve. BAV is the most common cause of heart disease present at birth and affects approximately 1.3% of adults.[2] Normally, the mitral valve is the only bicuspid valve and this is situated between the heart's left atrium and left ventricle. Heart valves play a crucial role in ensuring the unidirectional flow of blood from the atrium to the ventricles, or from the ventricle to the aorta or pulmonary trunk. BAV is normally inherited.

  1. ^ "Bicuspid aortic valve : MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". medlineplus.gov. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  2. ^ Verma, S; Siu, SC (May 2014). "Aortic dilatation in patients with bicuspid aortic valve". New England Journal of Medicine (Review). 370 (20): 1920–9. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1207059. PMID 24827036. S2CID 55778596.