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"Pictures Of Heart Valve Disease?" Asks Ray

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: June 12, 2025

Ray just emailed me a great question about heart valve disease.

He writes, "Adam - Try this one on for size... I'm 57 and newly diagnosed with severe stenosis in my aortic valve. The docs think I need surgery soon. I can't believe it. I feel fine. No real symptoms. But, the echo shows my heart is already dilated somewhat. Even though the cardiologist told me what is wrong... I want to see what is wrong. Do you have any pictures of heart valve disease? Thanks, Ray"

Like Ray, I experienced a very similar thought upon diagnosis, "What does a diseased heart valve look like?" That said, please find several pictures below to help Ray (and perhaps you) better understand the visual anatomy of several different types of valve disease.

First, however, I thought you might like to see what a normal heart valve looks like for comparison. Here are two pictures of a normal aortic heart valve.

Here is another normal heart valve. As you can see it has three uniques leaflets.

Below is a picture of a calcified bicuspid aortic valve. The valve cusps are rigid, distorted and deformed. And, the bicuspid aortic valve that is severely calcified. (So you know, this was my diagnosis prior to double heart valve surgery.)

Bicuspid aortic valve with calcium (stenosis)

In this picture of mitral valve prolapse, you can see how the two leaflets do not seal properly causing blood to leak backwards.

Finally, if you were wondering, "Does calcification of the leaflets impact the mitral valve?"

The answer to that is yes. Here is picture of a mitral valve with severe calcification on the leaflets and annulus.

Mitral valve stenosis with calcium build-up on annulus

I hope these pictures help you better visualize some of the various forms of heart valve disease. If you have any additional pictures to share, please let me know!

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

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.

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