The aortic valve is made up of three triangular flaps of tissue called cusps that open and close to keep blood flowing in only one direction . Sometimes, the aortic valve opening narrows – a ...

A certain percentage of the energy by the LV is used during opening of the aortic cusps. In healthy individuals with a normal valve, minimal energy is required to open the pliable cusps and hold ...

A relatively common sequela is calcification of the aortic valve cusps remitting in calcific aortic stenosis. The elderly population in the United States, which was 34 million in 1995, will double ...