Mitral Valve - Rheumatic (II)

This excised mitral valve is viewed from the atrial and ventricular aspects. The valvular orifice is stenotic due to fusion of the commissures. The leaflets are thickened with diffuse fibrosis and retraction. Areas of ulceration are also present, most commonly where the leaflet surface is traumatized by underlying nodules of calcification. The chordae tendineae as viewed from the ventricular aspect are thickened, fused and shortened.   Back to valvular disease