Home » Health » Table: Stenosis and Regurgitation – MSD Manual Consumer Version

Table: Stenosis and Regurgitation – MSD Manual Consumer Version


Heart valves can leak (causes regurgitation) or fail to open properly, partially blocking blood flow through the valve (causing stenosis). Stenosis and regurgitation can affect any heart valve. The two diseases are presented here using the example of the mitral valve.

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Normally, the aortic valve closes and the mitral valve opens just after the left ventricle stops contracting, relaxes and refills with blood (during diastole), and some blood flows from the left atrium into the left ventricle. The left atrium then contracts, pushing more blood into the left ventricle.

When the left ventricle contracts (during systole), the mitral valve closes, the aortic valve opens, and blood flows into the aorta.

stenosis and regurgitation – – –

In mitral stenosis, the mitral valve opening is narrowed and blood flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle is reduced during diastole.

In mitral regurgitation, when the left ventricle contracts (during systole), the mitral valve leaks and some blood leaks back into the left atrium.

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