What is a Aortic Valve - Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care

The aortic heart valve separates the left ventricle from the aorta and allows oxygenated blood to flow through the body. As the left ventricle contracts, it pumps oxygenated blood out of the heart through the aortic heart valve. The aortic heart valve controls the flow of the blood out of the heart via the body's main artery, called the aorta. When the left ventricle has emptied, the aortic heart valve closes to prevent blood from reentering the heart.

Once blood has cycled through the body via the aorta, it is returned to the right atrium, which is located on the right side of the heart. This is where the tricuspid heart valve is located.