The tricuspid valve (also known as the right atrioventricular valve) is on the right side of the heart, between the right atrium and the right ventricle. The normal tricuspid valve usually has three leaflets and three papillary muscles. They are connected to the papillary muscles by the chordae tendineae, which lie in the right ventricle. Tricuspid valves may also occur with two or four leaflets, and the number may change during life.

Pathology

Tricuspid regurgitation is not uncommon in the tricuspid valve. It is a common valve to be infected (endocarditis) in IV drug users. Although it is not a common site of endocarditis, patients with a small VSD usually develop endocarditis of the tricuspid valve.

The tricuspid valve can be affected by rheumatic fever which can cause tricuspid stenosis or tricuspid insufficiency (also called tricuspid regurgitation). Some patients are born with congenital abnormalities of the tricuspid valve. Congenital apical displacement of the tricuspid valve is called Ebstein's anomaly and typically causes significant tricuspid regurgitation.

The first endovascular tricuspid valve implant was performed by physicians at the Cleveland Clinic.

See also

• Heart valve
• Bicuspid valve

References

External links