Heart Valve Anatomy: Locating the Tricuspid and Mitral (Bicuspid) Valves

The heart has four valves ensuring unidirectional flow:

• Tricuspid valve: Between right atrium (RA) and right ventricle (RV). Three leaflets (anterior, posterior, septal).
• Pulmonary valve: Between RV and pulmonary artery. Three semilunar cusps.
• Mitral (bicuspid) valve: Between left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV). Two leaflets (anterior, posterior).
• Aortic valve: Between LV and aorta. Three semilunar cusps.

Atrioventricular (AV) valves (tricuspid, mitral) are supported by chordae tendineae and papillary muscles preventing prolapse. Semilunar valves (pulmonary, aortic) are self-supporting.

Common error: "bicuspid valve" refers to the mitral valve; a bicuspid aortic valve is a congenital anomaly (two cusps instead of three).