Skip to main navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to footer
For
Medicare
For
Providers
For
Brokers
For
Employers
Español
For Individuals & Families:
For Individuals & Families
Medical
Dental
Other Supplemental
Explore coverage through work
How to Buy Health Insurance
Types of Dental Insurance
Open Enrollment vs. Special Enrollment
See all topics
Shop for Medicare plans
Member Guide
Find a Doctor
Log in to myCigna
Home
Knowledge Center
Wellness Library
Heart Valve Disease
Heart Valve Disease
Condition Basics
What are the types of heart valve disease?
Heart valve disease can affect any of the four valves. A valve may not be able to open well enough (stenosis) or close well enough (regurgitation). Heart valve diseases include:
-
Aortic valve regurgitation.
-
Aortic valve stenosis.
-
Mitral valve regurgitation.
-
Mitral valve stenosis.
-
Tricuspid valve stenosis.
-
Tricuspid valve regurgitation.
-
Pulmonic valve stenosis.
-
Pulmonic valve regurgitation.
How does your heart's pumping system work?
Your heart is divided into two separate pumping systems-right and left:
- The right side of your heart receives oxygen-poor blood from your veins and pumps it to your lungs to take up fresh oxygen.
- The left side of your heart receives oxygen-rich blood from your lungs and pumps it through your arteries to your body.
Your heart has four separate chambers that pump blood—two on the right side and two on the left side:
- Right atrium
- Right ventricle
- Left atrium
- Left ventricle
Blood travels through your heart and lungs in four steps. In each step, it must pass through a valve.
- Step 1: The right atrium receives oxygen-poor blood from the body and pumps it through the tricuspid valve to the right ventricle.
- Step 2: The right ventricle pumps the oxygen-poor blood through the pulmonary valve to the lungs.
- Step 3: The left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps it through the mitral valve to the left ventricle.
- Step 4: The left ventricle pumps the oxygen-rich blood through the aortic valve to the entire body.
Current as of: January 10, 2022
Author:
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Rakesh K. Pai MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology & Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Michael P. Pignone MD, MPH, FACP - Internal Medicine
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org.
© 1995-2022 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Related Links
Aortic Valve Regurgitation
Mitral Valve Regurgitation
Mitral Valve Stenosis
Aortic Valve Stenosis
<cipublic-spinner variant="large"><span>Loading…</span></cipublic-spinner>