The Role of Echocardiography in the Surgical Management of Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease.

The mitral valve has a complicated 3D structure made up multiple, distinct anatomical components. The entire unit is situated in the left atrioventricular groove allowing blood to move freely from the left atrium into a relaxed left ventricle during diastole. In order to correctly identify lesions and describe dysfunction of the mitral valve unit, it is important to understand the complex physiology of each component. The following paragraphs will, therefore, explore in detail the mitral valve annulus, leaflets, commissures, chordae, papillary muscles, and left ventricle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]