fbpx
Written by Andrea Fields MHA, RDCS

Mitral Valve Anatomy: Name 5 Components!

Last week we wrapped up our right heart blog series.  Be sure to keep an eye out for our Right Heart E-Book that will be available soon!

This week, we are kicking off our mitral regurgitation (MR) blog series! The ASE, recently released updated guidelines, for the proper methods to quantify MR. We at CardioServ, want to help break it down, into a more enjoyable learning process.  Our goal is to help you, incorporate these methods into daily scanning practices! We look forward to feedback and comments, as we are all here to learn and grow together!

In order to identify pathology of a valve, we must be familiar with the basic anatomy first! Can you name five components of the mitral valve apparatus?  Read on, and master mitral valve anatomy!

Mitral Valve Function

  1. Regulates blood flow in 2 ways:
    • Forward towards left ventricle (LV) in diastole
    • Prevents backflow towards left atrium (LA) in systole
  2. Helps regulate size, geometry and function of the LV

 Five Mitral Valve Components

 

1. Mitral Annulus
2. Mitral Leaflets
3. Commissures
4. Chordae Tendinae
5. Papillary Muscles

 

 

 

1.  Mitral Annulus

Mitral AnnulusAnatomical structure that separates the LV & LA

Mitral Annulus

2.  Mitral Leaflets

Mitral Leaflets & ScallopsThin and pliable leaflets that contain scallops which represent segmental markers.

  • 2 Leaflets with 3 Scallops
    • Anterior Leaflet (AML): larger & thicker
      • Dome-shaped
      • Scallops: A1 (lateral), A2 (central), A3 (medial)
    • Posterior Leaflet (PML): thinner & more flexible
      • Crescent shaped
      • Scallops: P1 (lateral), P2 (central), P3 (medial)
  • Leaflets thin & pliable
  • Scallops serve as segmental markers of leaflets

Mitral Valve Leaflets PSAX

3.  Commissures

Commissures: 2 specific sites where the leaflets insert and join into mitral annulus

  • Anterolateral Commissure
  • Posteromedial Commissure

Mitral Valve Commissures

4.  Chordae Tendinae

Chordae TendinaeFibrous strings that attach specific portions of mitral leaflets to papillary muscle tips

  • Normal average length is around 20mm
  • Normal average thickness is 1-2mm
  • Key items to look for: thickening, fusion, calcification, elongation, rupture

Mitral Valve Chordae Tendinae

Three classified types of chordae tendinae based on location of insertion:Chordae Tendinae Types

  • Primary (marginal)- attaches at leaflet tips (‘coaptation line’)
    • Function to maintain coaptation of leaflets
    • Failure of primary leads to rupture or elongated chordae
    • Cause development of prolapse or flail leaflet
  • Secondary (basal)- attaches at mid-body of leaflets
    • Provides support length to leaflets
    • Thicker & longer
    • Can rupture & not damage coaptation or develop regurgitation
  • Tertiary– attaches at base of leaflets
    • Function as structural support

 

5.  Papillary Muscles

Papillary MusclesLarge trabeculae muscles that branch from 1/3rd of LV, connecting chordae to mitral leaflets

2 papillary muscles:

  • Anterolateral (APM):
    • Dual blood supply (LAD & Cx)
  • Posteromedial (PPM):
    • Single blood supply (Either RCA or LCX)
    • Prone to injury from MI due to single blood supply

Papillary MusclesPapillary Muscles

Mitral Valve Zones

The mitral apparatus has very specific details that make up the large picture of the ‘mitral valve’. If we zoom in on the mitral leaflets from the atrial surface, we can identify two zones that are used for describing location of pathology seen.

  1. Body (‘Smooth’) Zone: surface area on leaflet body
  2. Coaptation (‘Rough’) Zone: represents the coaptation area of leaflets
    • Crucial area to observe in assessment of mitral valve function

Mitral Valve Coaptation Zone

 Key Tips to Take Away

  1. Evaluation of the Mitral Valve includes all components that make up the Mitral Apparatus
  2. Visualization of scallops can vary per scanning window and angulation of specific window
  3. Understanding the structure and function of all components can aid in diagnosing pathology
  4. Anterior leaflet is more fixed than the posterior, causing the posterior leaflet to be more prone to remodeling, distortion of shape or damage
  5. Anterior leaflet is not anatomically divided into scallops like the posterior leaflet is, but for pathological guidance, the anterior scallops mimic the posterior leaflets
  6. Scallops are labeled 1 to 3 based from lateral to medial segments
  7. In regards to which papillary muscle supplies chordae to which scallops…
    • Anterolateral papillary muscle = lateral scallops (A1, P1) & lateral half of A2, P2
    • Posteromedial papillary muscle = medial scallops (A3, P3) & medial half of A2, P2
  8. Chordae play a key role in the structure and function of mitral leafets

Conclusion

This week, we reviewed mitral valve anatomy, to lay the foundation for our in-depth review of quantification of  mitral valve regurgitation.  You can now confidently identify 5 components of the mitral valve apparatus!  Join us next week, as we start our discussion on correct scanning techniques for the mitral valve!  We look forward to hearing feedback and comments from our readers!

Andrea Fields MHA, RDCS

Stay Connected: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

 

 

 

References: 

Prokšelj, K. (2015). Echocardiography Of The Mitral Valve. International Symposium MITRAL VALVE DISEASES IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS. doi:10.5644/pi2017.168.03

Zoghbi, W. A., MD, Adams, D., RCS, RDCS, FASE, & Bonow, R. O., MD. (2017). Recommendations for Noninvasive Evaluation of Native Valvular Regurgitation. JASE,30(4), 318-334. Retrieved June 6, 2017.

Zamorano, J. L., MD, & Badano, L. P. (2011). EAE/ASE Recommendations for the Use of Echocardiography in New Transcather Interventions for Valvular Heart Disease. JASE,24(9), 957-960. Retrieved June 6, 2017.

ASE guidelinesChordae Tendinaeleft atriumleft ventricleMitral AnnulusMitral ApparatusMitral CommissuresMitral LeafletsMitral RegurgitationMitral ValveMitral Valve Apparatuspapillary muscles

Our Services

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK...

Tadesse Gemechuhow d
This is excellent
Mark McDonough
Excellent. Please continue these wonderful educational blogs.
DR.IMRAN
spectacular way of presentation
Cindy Opsincs
Your blogs are excellent. Very refreshing and informative. Keep them coming.
Sherif samuel
Excellent Review thank you
Ana Rubio
Please continue these wonderful educational blogsspectacular way of presentation
Nilesh
Excellent teaching material explained in a very simple and understanding way liked it very much
atif
Excellent revision. Very crisp and concise. Hope to see more of such material in future.
alvarospadoni
Anatomia sempre fondamentale
Iqbal
Excellent site for junior Cardiology residents. Love it
Ronald Morales
La revisión anatomica es esencial la evaluación de l Funcionamiento de la válvula mitral excelente revisión ymaterial didáctico muy útil gracias
milton miranda ( BR)
excelente revisao da anatomia da valva mitral, que da a base para compreender a patologia. parabens.
Dr. Roshan Kumar Jha
Very useful information
Mansingh
Interesting to see
david benedict
Nice job once again. One suggestion for clarification. My experience as a clinical instructor for two echo programs ive noted that there is confusion re: the relative sizes of the AMVL and the PMVLs. The AMVL is in fact longer but not "larger" then the PMVL. Their surface areas are approx. the same but, as you wrote, are shaped differently. At her college based program one of my students was informed that her answer “AMVL is longer” was incorrect. She was told that the “leaflets are the same size”. At the other program the instructor teaches that the AMVL is “larger” as you have in this article. “Mitral Leaflets Anterior Leaflet (AML): larger & thicker Dome-shaped Posterior Leaflet (PML): thinner & more flexible Crescent shaped”
Mayooran
Excellent article
Mayooran
Excellent!
Johnd990
very nice submit, i definitely love this website, keep on it
Praveen
Very useful site
Sehrish
Informative...excellent
Mary Ann
Brilliant articles!
Mary Ann
Very useful!
Mary Ann
Very useful.
Mary Ann
Fantastic learning
Mary Ann
Bravo!
Jamil
Excellent
ALISON
Excellent, thank you!
Michelle carrier
This is wonderful info ! Thx
Hussein
Very good article
Bhavesh
Fantastic Information..!! Very Useful..!! Thank you..!!
Marcelo Medina
thanks, I never have was read so clear explanation
George Mathew
Very Good Information about MV, Thank you so much

Your email will not be displayed.

Required *

Accreditation
services

Accreditation Help
Online Echo CMEs
Echo Accreditation Software
Free
Consultation

Search
for

Blog
Categories

Blog
Archive

Tags
Used

Show tags
Need Help? Share