What does the mitral valve separate?

What does the mitral valve separate?

• A. Left atrium and left ventricle
• B. Right atrium and right ventricle
• C. Right atrium and left ventricle
• D. Left atrium and right ventricle

Answer: (A)

The mitral valve sits between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It opens to allow blood to move from the left atrium into the left ventricle during filling, and it closes to prevent blood from flowing back into the atrium when the ventricle contracts. This valve is on the left side of the heart, and is also known as the bicuspid valve. The other valves are located between the right atrium and right ventricle (tricuspid), and between the ventricles and the great arteries (aortic and pulmonary), so the mitral valve’s job is specifically to separate the left atrium from the left ventricle.

The mitral valve sits between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It opens to allow blood to move from the left atrium into the left ventricle during filling, and it closes to prevent blood from flowing back into the atrium when the ventricle contracts. This valve is on the left side of the heart, and is also known as the bicuspid valve. The other valves are located between the right atrium and right ventricle (tricuspid), and between the ventricles and the great arteries (aortic and pulmonary), so the mitral valve’s job is specifically to separate the left atrium from the left ventricle.