What does "Mitral valve" mean in a report or doctor's letter? In our medical dictionary, you will find a patient-friendly explanation of the meaning of this medical term.
The mitral valve is a part of the heart that acts like a gate. It allows blood to flow from one chamber of the heart, called the left atrium, to another called the left ventricle. The valve opens to let blood flow through, and then closes to prevent blood from flowing backwards. It's named "mitral" because it's shaped a bit like a bishop's mitre (a type of hat).
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