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Topic

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Right atrioventricular valve (tricuspid valve)

The tricuspid valve is the right atrioventricular valve, situated between the right atrium and right ventricle. It is composed of three leaflets (anterior, posterior, and septal), attached via chordae tendineae to the papillary muscles of the right ventricle. The valve opens during diastole, allowing blood flow from the right atrium into the right ventricle, and closes during systole to prevent regurgitation. It plays a crucial role in right-sided cardiac hemodynamics, and is a key structure in evaluating congenital heart disease, right heart failure, endocarditis, and post-surgical states.

Synonyms

  • Tricuspid valve

  • Right atrioventricular valve

  • Valve of the right atrioventricular orifice

Function

  • Opens during diastole to allow passive and active filling of the right ventricle

  • Closes during systole to prevent backflow into the right atrium

  • Maintains unidirectional blood flow through the right side of the heart

  • Supports right ventricular efficiency and pressure regulation

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Valve leaflets appear as thin, low-signal structures

  • Blood flow creates signal void (black lumen)

  • Limited in assessing leaflet motion

T2-weighted images:

  • Cusps remain hypointense compared with myocardium

  • Pathological turbulent flow may appear as signal voids within the lumen

Cine MRI (SSFP sequences):

  • Provides dynamic visualization of valve opening during diastole and closure during systole

  • Assesses leaflet motion, thickening, prolapse, and tethering

  • Detects tricuspid stenosis or regurgitation

  • Phase-contrast cine MRI quantifies regurgitant volume and fraction

T1 Post-Contrast (Gadolinium-enhanced):

  • Enhances the valve annulus and surrounding cardiac structures

  • Cusps themselves show minimal enhancement

  • Abnormal enhancement may suggest fibrosis, pannus, or infective endocarditis

CT Appearance

Non-contrast CT:

  • Valve leaflets are thin and not well visualized without contrast

  • Calcifications, if present (uncommon compared with mitral/aortic valves), appear hyperdense

Contrast-enhanced CT (CT Angiography / Cardiac CT):

  • Provides excellent visualization of valve leaflets, annulus, chordae tendineae, and papillary muscles

  • Useful for detecting leaflet thickening, stenosis, regurgitation, congenital anomalies, or prosthetic valve complications

  • Multiplanar reconstructions aid in preoperative and interventional planning

MRI images

Tricuspid valve, Right atrioventricular valve

CT image

Tricuspid valve, Right atrioventricular valve ct AXIAL image -img-00000-00000