AEMCA Practice Exam

Which atrioventricular valve allows blood to pass from the left atrium to the left ventricle?

1. Tricuspid

2. Pulmonary

3. Bicuspid

4. Aortic

The correct answer is: Bicuspid

The atrioventricular valve that facilitates the flow of blood from the left atrium to the left ventricle is known as the bicuspid valve, also commonly referred to as the mitral valve. This valve consists of two leaflets or cusps, which open to allow oxygen-rich blood to move from the left atrium into the left ventricle. When the left ventricle contracts, the bicuspid valve closes, preventing the backflow of blood into the atrium, ensuring that blood is efficiently pumped into the aorta and distributed throughout the body. The tricuspid valve, in contrast, is located on the right side of the heart and regulates blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle. The pulmonary valve serves to control blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery, while the aortic valve manages blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta. Each of these valves plays a crucial role in the heart's pumping mechanism, but in the case of blood transitioning from the left atrium to the left ventricle, the bicuspid valve is the essential structure involved.