Definition

1. Noun:
   • A biological structure in the heart: A "heart valve" is a natural flap or fold of tissue in the heart that ensures blood flows in only one direction through the heart's chambers.
   • A medical implant: A "heart valve" can also refer to an artificial or prosthetic device surgically implanted to replace a damaged or diseased natural heart valve.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The mitral valve is one of the four main heart valves.
  • After his diagnosis, he needed surgery to replace a failing heart valve.
  • The surgeon carefully repaired the defective heart valve.

Advanced Usage

• "Valve replacement surgery": A common medical procedure involving a heart valve.
  • Her recovery from heart valve replacement surgery went smoothly.
• "Valvular heart disease": A condition affecting a heart valve.
  • The patient was treated for valvular heart disease.

Variants and Related Words

• Cardiac valve: A more formal, synonymous term for a natural heart valve.
• Valve prosthesis / Prosthetic valve: Terms specifically for an artificial heart valve implant.
• Valvular (adj): Pertaining to or affecting a valve, especially a heart valve.
  • The scan showed valvular abnormalities.

Synonyms

• Cardiac valve (for the biological structure).
• Prosthetic heart valve (for the implant).

Related Phrases

• Heart valve disease: A general term for conditions affecting the heart valves.
• Heart valve disorder: Similar to heart valve disease.
• Leaky heart valve: A common non-medical term for valve regurgitation.

Notes

• The term "heart valve" is a compound noun. Its meaning is specific to cardiac anatomy and cardiology. It is not typically used in idiomatic expressions or as a phrasal verb.

Noun

1. an implant that replaces a natural cardiac valve
2. a valve to control one-way flow of blood