Morphometry of human tricuspid valve: A cadaveric study

Abstract

The cardiovascular system consists of a pump represented by the heart and blood vessels, which provide the route by which blood circulates to all parts of the body. William Harvey, in the 17th century, discovered that blood is pumped away from the heart, but it all returns to the heart after circulating in the body.  A right ventricular function can be compromised by pressure  or stress, often secondary to the right heart valve or muscle pathology. The valves maintain unidirectional flow and permit increased pressure to develop in the chambers. The tricuspid valve consists of three tissue flaps. It separates the right atria and the right ventricle. To measure morphometric measurements of an individual leaflet of the tricuspid valve of cadaveric human hearts. The material for the present study comprised of 50 formalin-fixed adult human hearts (35 males and 15 females) which were obtained from the Department of Anatomy from various medical colleges in Maharashtra. Statistical significant difference was found for the height of anterior and posterior leaflets between male and female hearts. The length of the septal leaflet was also found to be statistically significant between male and female hearts. The study will be helpful for cardiac surgeons in providing data for tricuspid valve complex, leaflets, cords and papillary muscles.