Advanced - Valve Development

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Heart Fields

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Cardiac Looping

Cardiac Septation

Outflow Tract

Valve Development

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Molecular Development

Cardiac Embryology

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Development of the mitral and tricuspid valves

Many of the mechanisms involved in the development of cardiac valves, particularly the process of epithelial to mesenchymal transformation (EMT), are poorly understood. Much of valve formation revolves around expansion of endocardial cushion tissue, yet limitation of cell proliferation is vital in ensuring the cushion swellings can be remodelled to form thin sheets. EMT which allows for cushion proliferation is limited by neurofibromin acting through the inhibition of Ras signalling as well as Smad6 which interferes with TGFβ signalling.

The AV valves begin to form between the fifth and eighth weeks of development. The valve leaflets are attached to the ventricular walls by thin fibrous chords, the chordae tendineae, which insert into small muscles attached to the ventricle wall, the papillary muscles. These structures are sculpted from the ventricular wall. The left AV valve has anterior and posterior leaflets and is termed the bicuspid or mitral valve. The right AV valve has a third, small, septal cusp and thus is called the tricuspid valve. These concepts are depicted on the right.

Development of the semilunar valves

Development of the semilunar cusps

The aortic and pulmonary valves, termed the semilunar valves, are formed from the bulbar ridges and subendocardial valve tissue. The primordial semilunar valve consists of a mesenchymal core covered by endocardium. Excavation occurs, thinning the valve tissue thus creating its final shape (see left). These valves form the four valves of the adult heart, depicted below. The mechanisms of valve remodelling in these final steps in both the AV and semilunar valves are not fully understood yet are thought to involve apoptotic pathways.

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