Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts
                                    Richard E. Klabunde, Ph.D.

Cardiac Valve Disease Tutorial 

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1. Describe the anatomy of the heart, including: cardiac chambers and valves, and the great vessels entering and leaving the heart.  click here

2. What are the seven phases of the cardiac cycle and how is each phase related temporally to the electrocardiogram?  click here

3. What changes occur in ventricular and atrial pressures, ventricular volume, and aortic pressure and flow during the cardiac cycle?  click here

4. What normally causes cardiac valves to open and close?  click here

5. Why is the pressure gradient across a valve normally very low (just a few mmHg)?  click here

6. When during the cardiac cycle are the first (S₁), second (S₂), third (S₃) and fourth (S₄) heart sounds heard, and what causes these sounds?  click here

7. What are murmurs and what produces the audible sounds?  click here

8. What is the difference between systolic and diastolic murmurs with respect to when they are heard during the cardiac cycle?  click here

9. What is the difference between a stenotic valve and insufficient valve?   click here

10. What valve defects are associated with systolic murmurs?    click here

11. What valve defects are associated with diastolic murmurs?    click here

12. What determines the magnitude of the pressure gradient across a stenotic valve?  click here

13. What is Poiseuille's equation and how does it relate to the pressure gradient across a valve?  click here

14. What is turbulent flow and how does it differ from laminar flow?  click here

15. How is turbulence related to flow velocity, valve orifice area, and blood viscosity?  click here

16. What is the effect of exercise (increased cardiac output) on the pressure gradient across a stenotic valve?  click here

17. How does aortic stenosis alter the left ventricular pressure-volume loop?  click here

18. How does mitral stenosis alter the left ventricular pressure-volume loop?  click here

19. How does aortic regurgitation alter the left ventricular pressure-volume loop?  click here

20. How does mitral regurgitation alter the left ventricular pressure-volume loop?  click here

21. What valve defects can increase left atrial and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures, and what is the consequence of elevating these pressures?   click here

22. How can valve defects lead to reduced exercise capacity and exertional dyspnea?  click here

  Revised 11/03/06 

DISCLAIMER: These materials are for educational purposes only, and are not a source of medical decision-making advice.

© 1999-2008 Richard E. Klabunde, all rights reserved.