Mitral Valve:
One of the four (4) valves located in the heart. The mitral valve is made up of two leaflets, chordae tendonae and papillary muscles. The mitral valve is located in the left atrium and left ventricle. All of the valves in the heart are one-way valves, which means that when they are functioning properly, they allow blood to flow in only one direction. The mitral valve allows newly oxygenated blood from the lungs to flow from the left atrium, which receives the blood from the lungs, into the left ventricle. As the left ventricle begins to pump this blood back out to the body, the mitral valve closes, thereby keeping the blood in the left ventricle from flowing back to the lungs. Proper function of the mitral valve is vital to normal, efficient heart function.
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