title: Mitral valve anatomy and morphology: relevance to mitral valve replacement and valve reconstruction.
abstract: An endoscope was used to study the anatomy and morphology of the native mitral valve inside an isolated pig heart working under physiological conditions. Annulus motion, valve leaflet function, and the anatomy of the chords and branching pattern are described. Anatomical and functional details relevant to mitral valve reconstruction and valve replacement are outlined. Because of the similarity with the human heart, we have assumed that the observations made in the pig heart also apply to humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: van Rijk-Zwikker
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Delemarre
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Huysmans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002815:Chordae Tendineae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine