“What Is The Mitral Valve Annulus?” Asks Dana

By Adam Pick on September 2, 2008

Some patients want to know EVERYTHING before their operation – the valve anatomy, the surgical process, the recovery details. Other patients want to know absolutely NOTHING about their upcoming surgery. Many say to me, “Honestly Adam, I don’t want to know a thing. The more I know, the more I will worry.”

I can understand both positions. That said, this blog is for those who want to know everything – especially about the anatomy of the mitral valve. Dana just wrote to me, “Adam – Can you help me understand what the mitral valve annulus is? My sister needs mitral valve replacement surgery due to regurgitation and that term – mitral valve annulus – came up in our last discussion.”

No problem Dana. To start, please look at the two figures below. You can see a top- and side-view of the mitral valve. The posterior and anterior annulus is labeled on both diagrams.
 

 

Mitral valve annulus diagram
Top View Of Mitral Valve

 

 

Side view of the mitral annulus.
Side View Of Mitral Valve

 
 

As you can see, the mitral valve annulus is a saddle-shaped structure that supports the leaflets of the mitral valve. (Unlike the other three heart valves, the mitral valve has two leaflets that manage the flow of blood through the mitral valve.)

If the mitral valve annulus fails to properly connect with the leaflets or experiences significant calcification (see picture below), the functioning of the heart may be compromised. Both mitral valve regurgitation and stenosis can result.

 

Calcified mitral valve annulus.

 

For example, a mitral valve prolapse occurs when the mitral valve leaflets are displaced more than 2 mm above the mitral valve annulus high points. The condition can be further divided into classic and nonclassic subtypes based on the thickness of the mitral valve leaflets – up to 5 mm is considered nonclassic, while anything beyond 5 mm is considered classic mitral valve prolapse.

I hope this helps explain what the mitral valve annulus is and how it can impact the heart. The good news is that mitral valve surgery can repair or replace many issues with the mitral valve annulus.

Keep on tickin!
Adam


Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick, Heart Valve Patient Advocate

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.


R. Mazzacua says on March 31st, 2010 at 4:11 pm

I have been trying to convince a VA doctor about the significance of wide pulse pressure, so far to no avail. My pulse pressure consistently is from 70 to 100.
My age is 73. I am anemic, have chronic kidney disease (stage 3) today found that I have a calcified aortic valve annulus. Accoring to my research on the computer a wide pulse pressure is an indicator of each of these. My intention is
not to cause any problems but to convince this Doctor of the significance of wide pulse pressure as an early diagnostic tool, primarily to help my fellow veterans.
Is there any way in which you could provide me information to assist me. If you
cannot, I will understand. Thank you.



Adisorn says on July 1st, 2011 at 5:41 am

Wow


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