mitralis

Mitralis refers to the mitral valve of the heart, known in English as the mitral valve or valva mitralis. The term is Latin in origin, with mitra meaning a bishop’s hat, reflecting the valve’s two-leaflet shape that resembles a mitre.

The valva mitralis is the left atrioventricular valve, located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It consists of two leaflets, the anterior and posterior, anchored to the fibrous annulus and linked to the papillary muscles by chordae tendineae. These structures function to allow blood to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle during diastole while preventing backflow into the atrium during systole.

Pathologies affecting the mitral valve are among the most common cardiac conditions. Mitral regurgitation is the leakage of blood backward into the left atrium during systole and can be primary (degenerative changes such as mitral valve prolapse) or secondary (due to left ventricular dilation or ischemia). Mitral stenosis is the narrowing of the valve orifice, historically associated with rheumatic heart disease, though calcification and other etiologies can contribute. Mitral valve prolapse is a common degenerative condition where one or both leaflets bulge into the left atrium.

Diagnosis relies primarily on echocardiography, including transthoracic and transesophageal studies, with Doppler assessment of regurgitant flow or gradients. Clinical examination may reveal characteristic murmurs and changes in heart sounds.

Treatment depends on severity and symptoms. Medical management addresses congestion and rate control when needed. Definite therapy may involve surgical repair or replacement of the mitral valve; percutaneous options such as transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (MitraClip) are available for selected patients.