trikuspidalis

Trikuspidalis is a Latin adjective meaning “three-pointed” or “having three cusps.” In biological and medical terminology it is used as a descriptive epithet for structures that display a tri-pointed morphology. The form is common in scientific Latin and has been carried into modern English usage as tricuspid or tricuspidate, depending on grammatical context.

In human anatomy, trikuspidalis is encountered most notably in reference to the tricuspid valve, or valva tricuspidalis, of the heart. This valve lies between the right atrium and the right ventricle and consists of three leaflets or cusps—anterior, posterior, and septal. The valve opens to allow blood to flow from the atrium to the ventricle during diastole and closes to prevent backflow during systole. Its function is supported by chordae tendineae and papillary muscles. Pathologies related to this valve include tricuspid regurgitation and tricuspid stenosis, which can affect cardiac efficiency and hemodynamics.

In botany, trikuspidalis describes plant structures that are three-lobed or three-pointed. The related term tricuspidate (or tricuspidate leaf) is commonly used to denote leaves or floral parts with three cusps or lobes, serving as a descriptive morphology rather than a taxonomic grouping.

Etymology: from Latin tri- “three” plus cuspis “point, cusp.” The adjective form trikuspidalis is used in scientific Latin and in multilingual usage with orthographic variants.