Between which structures is the pulmonary valve located?

Between which structures is the pulmonary valve located?

• A. Right ventricle and pulmonary trunk
• B. Left ventricle and aorta
• C. Right atrium and right ventricle
• D. Left atrium and left ventricle

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is where the heart’s outflow valves sit. The pulmonary valve is the semilunar valve at the exit of the right ventricle, where blood moves into the pulmonary trunk. It opens when the right ventricle contracts to send blood to the lungs and closes as the ventricle relaxes, preventing backflow from the pulmonary artery back into the ventricle. This distinguishes it from the valve between the left ventricle and the aorta (the aortic valve) and from the atrioventricular valves: the tricuspid valve between the right atrium and right ventricle, and the mitral valve between the left atrium and left ventricle.

The key idea here is where the heart’s outflow valves sit. The pulmonary valve is the semilunar valve at the exit of the right ventricle, where blood moves into the pulmonary trunk. It opens when the right ventricle contracts to send blood to the lungs and closes as the ventricle relaxes, preventing backflow from the pulmonary artery back into the ventricle. This distinguishes it from the valve between the left ventricle and the aorta (the aortic valve) and from the atrioventricular valves: the tricuspid valve between the right atrium and right ventricle, and the mitral valve between the left atrium and left ventricle.