Clinical aspects of heart valves
If the function of a heart valve is restricted, this is called heart valve vitium. Such a vitamin can be congenital or acquired. There are two types of functional limitations: Mild valve defects can go unnoticed, while more severe ones usually become symptomatic sooner or later.
Common to all valve defects is dyspnea on exertion (shortness of breath, sometimes even under slight physical strain). The valves of the left heart, i.e. the mitral valve and the aortic valve, are most frequently affected.
- In valve stenosis, the valve can no longer open completely, less blood passes through.A valve stenosis leads to increased pressure on the heart and thus to a thickening of the wall of the section in front of the affected valve (concentric hypertrophy).
- In the case of valve insufficiency, the affected valve no longer closes properly, and blood flows back into the heart area in front of the valve. In case of valve insufficiency, there is a volume strain on the area in front of the valve due to constant blood backflow. This also causes a thickening of the wall here, but with simultaneous dilatation of the heart cavity (eccentric hypertrophy).
