Heart valves are very important for controlling blood flow in our body. They help blood move in the right direction when it goes through the heart and lungs.

1. How They Help Blood Flow:

• Systemic Circulation: When blood leaves the left side of the heart (the left ventricle), valves make sure it doesn't flow backward as it goes into the aorta. This keeps the pressure at a healthy level, around 80 to 120 mmHg.

• Pulmonary Circulation: The pulmonary valves let blood move from the right side of the heart (the right ventricle) to the lungs. The pressure here is lower, about 15 to 30 mmHg.

2. Different Types of Valves:

• Atrioventricular Valves: These include the mitral and tricuspid valves. They make sure blood moves from the upper chambers (atria) to the lower chambers (ventricles) without going backward.

• Semilunar Valves: The aortic and pulmonary valves stop blood from flowing back into the ventricles after the heart contracts.

3. Fun Facts:

• Every time your heart beats, it pumps around 70 mL of blood. That adds up to about 5 liters each minute when you are resting and feeling healthy.

Knowing how heart valves work helps us appreciate how well our cardiovascular system functions.