Location of the Mitral Valve
The mitral valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle of the heart, serving as the gateway that controls unidirectional blood flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle. 1, 2
Anatomical Position
The mitral valve sits at the atrioventricular junction on the left side of the heart, positioned between the upper chamber (left atrium) and the lower chamber (left ventricle) 1, 3
The valve apparatus is strategically positioned to prevent backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium during ventricular contraction 2, 4
Spatial Relationships with Adjacent Cardiac Structures
The anterior mitral valve leaflet is in direct continuity with the left and noncoronary cusps of the aortic valve, forming what is known as the aortic-mitral curtain 5, 1
When visualized echocardiographically, the mitral valve should be displayed with the aortic valve positioned superiorly (at the 12 o'clock position), regardless of whether viewing from the left atrial or left ventricular perspective 5
The valve has a spatial relationship with the tricuspid annulus, which can be appreciated on comprehensive echocardiographic imaging 5
Structural Components Defining the Location
The mitral annulus forms the attachment ring at the atrioventricular junction, serving as the structural anchor point for the valve leaflets 1
The subvalvular apparatus extends from the annulus into the left ventricle, including chordae tendineae that connect to papillary muscles attached to the left ventricular wall 1, 4
This complex arrangement means the mitral valve location encompasses not just a single plane but a three-dimensional space extending from the annular attachment through the leaflets and down to the ventricular wall attachments 5, 4
Clinical Imaging Perspectives
The valve can be visualized from multiple echocardiographic windows: the left atrial perspective (surgical view) and the left ventricular perspective (ventricular view) 5
Standard transthoracic echocardiography views for locating and assessing the mitral valve include the parasternal long-axis view, parasternal short-axis view, apical four-chamber view, and apical two-chamber view 6, 7