What is the function of the pulmonary valve? What is the function of the aortic valve?
1 Answer
The pulmonary valve ensures unidirectional flow of de-oxygenated blood to the lungs; the aortic valve ensures unidirectional flow of oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.
Explanation:
Valves ensure unidirectional flow of blood.
Heart valves, in particular, are required to keep the flow of blood unidirectional and to prevent reversal of flow.
The pulmonary valve lies between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. The right ventricle receives de-oxygenated blood from the right atrium that receives it from the body via the two vena cavae.
This de-oxygenated blood is then pumped through the pulmonary artery to the lungs for oxygenation. Since the right ventricle has alternate pulses of low and high pressure, the pulmonary valve prevents the reverse flow of blood when the pressure in the right ventricle is low.
In the same way, the aortic valve lies between the left ventricle and the aorta. The left ventricle receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium that receives it from the lungs via the two pulmonary veins.
This oxygenated blood is then pumped through the aorta to the rest of the body. Since the left ventricle has alternate pulses of low and high pressure, the aortic valve prevents the reverse flow of blood when the pressure in the left ventricle is low.
