Between the ventricles and the atria were the valves, made up of flaps anchored to the ventricle walls by fibrous cords. How do these valves work in controlling the direction of blood flow?
1 Answer
Jul 1, 2017
Valves work by opening when blood flows in one direction and closing when the blood flow is reversed.
Explanation:
The cardiac valves between the atria and the ventricles are the tricuspid valve (separating the right atrium from the right ventricle) and the mitral valve (separating the left atrium from the left ventricle).
These valves are flaps of tissue that are anchored to the walls of the ventricles.
When blood flows from the atria (by contraction of the atria) to the ventricles, these valves are kept open by the pressure of the blood.
When the ventricles contract, the pressure of blood on the flaps of tissue pushes them upward and towards each other, closing the gap between the atria and the ventricles and preventing reverse blood flow.
