What is valvular stenosis?

What is valvular stenosis?

• A. Valve leaks due to incomplete closure
• B. Valves are scarred and cannot open completely, resisting blood flow
• C. Valve cusps widen allowing excess flow
• D. Valve tissue thickens but function is normal

Answer: (B)

Valvular stenosis is when a heart valve cannot open fully, narrowing the valve opening and creating resistance to blood flow from one chamber to the next. This means the heart has to generate higher pressure to push blood through the narrowed valve, which over time can lead to increased work for the heart and changes in the upstream chamber. The description that matches this is that the valve is scarred and cannot open completely, resisting blood flow. Scar tissue or calcification stiffens the valve cusps, reducing the effective orifice area. The other descriptions describe different valve problems: leakage from incomplete closure (regurgitation), cusps widening (which would not obstruct flow), or thickening with preserved function (not stenosis, since the hallmark is reduced opening and flow obstruction).

Valvular stenosis is when a heart valve cannot open fully, narrowing the valve opening and creating resistance to blood flow from one chamber to the next. This means the heart has to generate higher pressure to push blood through the narrowed valve, which over time can lead to increased work for the heart and changes in the upstream chamber. The description that matches this is that the valve is scarred and cannot open completely, resisting blood flow. Scar tissue or calcification stiffens the valve cusps, reducing the effective orifice area. The other descriptions describe different valve problems: leakage from incomplete closure (regurgitation), cusps widening (which would not obstruct flow), or thickening with preserved function (not stenosis, since the hallmark is reduced opening and flow obstruction).