Mitral valve prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse occurs when one or both mitral valve leaflets bulge into the left atrium during ventricular contraction. It may cause mitral regurgitation, though many cases are mild.

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Mitral valve: The heart valve between the left atrium and left ventricle, formed by two leaflets that regulate blood flow. Its leaflets are the structures that bow backward during prolapse.
Mitral valve prolapse diagnosis: The clinical assessment used to confirm mitral valve prolapse and determine its severity and effects. Diagnosis combines characteristic leaflet displacement on echocardiography with assessment for regurgitation.
Barlow's disease: A form of degenerative mitral valve disease characterized by thickened, redundant leaflets and often multiple prolapsing segments. It is a classic anatomical form of mitral valve prolapse.
Mitral valve stenosis: Narrowing of the mitral valve that obstructs blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. Stenosis restricts forward flow, unlike prolapse, which concerns leaflet displacement and possible backward leakage.
Mitral regurgitation: Backward flow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium through an inadequately closed mitral valve. Prolapsing leaflets can fail to meet, allowing blood to leak backward.
Mitral valve prolapse syndrome: A term sometimes used for mitral valve prolapse accompanied by symptoms such as palpitations or chest discomfort. It describes symptom patterns reported by some people with prolapse, though symptoms are not specific.
Fibroelastic deficiency: A degenerative valve disorder marked by deficient connective-tissue components and often thin, ruptured chordae. It can cause prolapse, commonly through a localized flail leaflet.
Tricuspid valve prolapse: Backward bulging of one or more tricuspid valve leaflets into the right atrium during ventricular contraction. It is the analogous prolapse affecting the right-sided atrioventricular valve.
Chordae tendineae: Tough connective-tissue cords that anchor atrioventricular valve leaflets to papillary muscles. These cords restrain leaflet movement and may be elongated or ruptured in prolapse.
Mitral valve repair: A procedure that corrects a malfunctioning mitral valve while preserving the patient's own valve tissue. Repair is often preferred when severe regurgitation from prolapse requires surgery.