Aortic Valve

The aortic valve is one of the four main valves of the heart. It separates the left ventricle from the aorta. It consists of three cusps. During the cardiac cycle, it opens and closes regularly. When open, it allows the passage of blood from the left ventricle. When closed, it prevents blood from flowing back into the ventricle. The dysfunctions that can affect it are aortic stenosis and aortic insufficiency. Cardiac ultrasound is used to assess these conditions.