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A supernumerary cusp in the human pulmonary valve.
K Shimada1, A Yokoi, T Kitagawa
1Department of Anatomy, School of Dentistry, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy : SRA
|January 1, 1990
Summary
A rare supernumerary cusp was discovered in the pulmonary trunk valve of a 75-year-old Japanese male. This anatomical variation, found during necropsy, highlights the diversity of human cardiovascular structures.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Anatomy
- Medical Pathology
- Human Morphology
Background:
- The pulmonary trunk valve, typically tricuspid, regulates blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery.
- Anatomical variations in heart valves can have implications for cardiovascular health and surgical procedures.
- Necropsy studies are crucial for documenting rare congenital and acquired cardiovascular anomalies.
Observation:
- A 75-year-old Japanese male subject presented with an unusual pulmonary trunk valve structure.
- The pulmonary valve was observed to possess four cusps instead of the typical three.
- The supernumerary cusp was situated between the right and left cusps, differing in size and shape.
Findings:
- A supernumerary (fourth) cusp was identified in the pulmonary trunk valve.
- The four cusps of the pulmonary valve exhibited variations in size and morphology.
- This finding occurred in one case out of 1,100 consecutive necropsies examined.
Implications:
- This case contributes to the understanding of pulmonary valve morphology and its variations.
- Documenting such anomalies is important for comparative anatomy and potential clinical relevance.
- Further research may explore the functional or pathological significance of supernumerary pulmonary valve cusps.