How Do Semilunar Valves Work?
Introduction There are two different types of valves in the heart, atrioventricular (AV) and semilunar (SV). The atrioventricular valves are the mitral and tricuspid valves, which regulate the blood flow from the left and right atriums to the left and right ventricles. The semilunar valves are the aortic valve and the pulmonic valve, which allow the blood to flow from the left ventricle to the aorta and from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery. Semilunar Valves The semilunar valves work using pressure. As the heart beats, it creates blood pressure in the circulatory system. This pressure can also be affected by hormones released in the body, which cause the muscles around the vessels to contract and restrict blood flow. The aortic semilunar valve works by sensing pressure in the left ventricle. When the pressure in the ventricle becomes greater than the pressure in the aorta, the valve opens, allowing blood flow to go through the valve and into the aorta, then pumped through th
