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Aortic valve

The aortic valve has three flaps that work like a one-way gate. When the heart pumps, the aortic valve opens to allow oxygen-rich blood to flow from the left ventricle into the aorta. When the heart rests between beats, the aortic valve closes to keep blood from flowing backward into the heart.

Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD
- Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC
- Interventional Cardiology
Last Updated January 24, 2008

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: January 24, 2008
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