what is a mitral valve leak
Watch an animation of mitral valve regurgitation. A leaking mitral valve allows blood to flow in two directions during the contraction. Some blood flows from the ventricle through the aortic valve â as it should â and some blood flows back into the atrium. leaking mitral valve allows blood to flow in two directions during the contraction. Some blood flows from the ventricle through the aortic valve â as it should â and some blood flows back into the atrium.
Mitral valve regurgitation means that one of the valves in your heart-the mitral valve-is letting blood leak backward into the heart.Heart valves work like one-way gates, helping blood flow in one direction between heart chambers or in and out of the heart. The mitral valve is on the left side of your heart.It lets blood flow from the upper to the lower heart chamber. See a picture of mitral valve regurgitation.When the mitral valve is damaged-for example, by an infection-it may no longer close tightly. This lets blood leak backward, or regurgitate, into the upper chamber.he mitral valve is on the left side of your heart. It lets blood flow from the upper to the lower heart chamber. See a picture of mitral valve regurgitation. When the mitral valve is damaged-for example, by an infection-it may no longer close tightly.