HB-043 · Cardiovascular · Part
Heart valves
Also called: heart valves Valvae cordis
3D anatomy data Classes 9-10 · Classes 11-12 Intermediate Draft - educator review
3D is not available on this device, so a picture of the model is shown instead.
Parts: tricuspid; pulmonary; mitral; aortic valves
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About
Four one-way valves keep blood moving forward through the heart.
- 📍 Where it is
- Tricuspid and mitral between atria and ventricles; pulmonary and aortic at the exits of the ventricles.
- 🧱 Structure
- Thin flaps (cusps or leaflets); the tricuspid and mitral are held by chordae tendineae and papillary muscles.
- ⚙️ What it does
- Open to let blood through and snap shut to stop backflow.
💡 Key facts
- The mitral valve has two leaflets (bicuspid).
- Papillary muscles stop the valves turning inside out.
- "Lub" is the AV valves closing; "dub" is the semilunar valves closing.
✗ Valves are pushed by muscles
✓ Valves open and close because of pressure differences.
📒 Words to know
- cusp
- valve flap
- semilunar
- half-moon shaped
- chordae tendineae
- heart strings holding the valve flaps
🏫 Related lessons
- Animals: life processes and reproduction Classes 6-8
- Life processes Classes 9-10
- Physical fitness and assessment Classes 9-10
Generic GayaGnan topic lessons. Check your own board's syllabus for the exact chapter.
🔎 Sources and credits
Catalog description: Valve assembly and opening/closing animation.
- OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, ch. 18-20 (blood, heart, vessels) (accessed 2026-10-30)
- 3D models: BodyParts3D (DBCLS) and the Human Reference Atlas (HuBMAP), CC BY 4.0, with GayaGnan schematics. 3D model credits
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