Nursing Stuff: Heart Valve Problems

Answers

01. Pulmonic stenosis.  The pulmonic valve opens during systole as blood is pumped out of the right ventricle.  A turbulent sound is created as it passes through the stenotic valve.

02. Tricuspid stenosis. The tricuspid valve opens during diastole as blood is ejected from the right atrium to the right ventricle.  This sound is created as blood passes through the narrowed opening between the two chambers. 

03. Aortic insufficiency.  The aortic valve opens during systole and is closed during diastole.  Because the valve does not close completely, blood backflows through the valve during diastole and creates the abnormal heart sound. 

04. Mitral stenosis.  The mitral valve opens during diastole to let blood pass from the left atrium to the left ventricle.  The turbulent blood flow is created as the blood passes over the stenotic valve as it is ejected from the atrium. 

05. Pulmonic insufficiency.  The pulmonic valve opens during systole to allow blood to pass from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery.  Because the valve does not close completely, there is a backward flow of blood through the incompetent valve during diastole.