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Take A Guess: What Is The Most Common Congenital Heart Valve Defect?

Posted By Adam Pick On September 23, 2008 @ 1:33 pm In Heart Anatomy | 2 Comments

Ready to take a guess relating to heart valves?

Okay. Here is the question, “What is the most common congenital heart valve defect?”

Want a hint? Leonardo Da Vinci (shown below) was one of the first to call attention to the common problems of this congenital defect over 500 years ago.

Want another hint? This heart valve defect typically impacts the aortic valve of the heart.

Any guesses? Scroll down below Da Vinci’s portrait for the answer.

Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo Da Vinci

Here’s Your Answer: According to Dr. Edward J Bayne, MD, from the Emory School Of Medicine, the bicuspid aortic valve is the common congenital abnormality. A congenitally bicuspid aortic valve has two functional leaflets (also known as heart valve flaps [1]) instead of three leaflets.

According to Healthline.com, bicuspid aortic valves are 3-4 times more prevalent in males than females AND account for 50% of the aortic stenosis cases requiring surgery. Click on this link to learn more about bicuspid aortic valves [2].

To further test your wits, feel free to try these other heart valve questions:

Keep on tickin!

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URL to article: http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2008/09/23/most-common-congenital-heart-valve-defect/

URLs in this post:

[1] heart valve flaps: http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2008/08/05/heart-valve-flaps-what-are-they-how-do-they-work/

[2] learn more about bicuspid aortic valves: http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/bicuspid-aortic-valve-symptoms.php

[3] How many open heart surgeries per year?: http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2008/07/29/annual-open-heart-surgery-operations/

[4] How many mitral valve surgeries per year?: http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2008/08/18/mitral-valve-surgery-yearly-annual-united-states-number/

[5] What is the annual cost of heart valve disease?: http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2008/06/21/annual-costs-of-heart-disease/

[6] Can you find the four heart valves?: http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2008/06/18/cardiac-quiz-can-you-find-the-four-heart-valves/

[7] How long does heart valve surgery take?: http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2008/09/10/how-long-does-heart-valve-surgery-take/