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Multiple Choice

What is another name for the aortic valve?

The aortic valve is also called the aortic semilunar valve. This name reflects its location between the left ventricle and the aorta and its semilunar (crescent-shaped) cusps. It’s one of the two semilunar valves in the heart, the other being the pulmonary valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. This set of valves differs from the atrioventricular valves (mitral and tricuspid), which have chordae tendineae and papillary muscles and separate the atria from the ventricles. The semilunar valves open to allow ejected blood into their respective great vessels during systole and close to prevent backflow during diastole, which is why the term aortic semilunar valve is the precise alternative name.

The aortic valve is also called the aortic semilunar valve. This name reflects its location between the left ventricle and the aorta and its semilunar (crescent-shaped) cusps. It’s one of the two semilunar valves in the heart, the other being the pulmonary valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. This set of valves differs from the atrioventricular valves (mitral and tricuspid), which have chordae tendineae and papillary muscles and separate the atria from the ventricles. The semilunar valves open to allow ejected blood into their respective great vessels during systole and close to prevent backflow during diastole, which is why the term aortic semilunar valve is the precise alternative name.