ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the dynamic behavior of the aortic valve in its natural functional state. The dynamic behavior will be considered in four steps: opening and closing of the valve, motion of various parts of the valve, design of the valve in vivo, and high-speed studies of leaflet motion. The most dominant feature of a functioning aortic valve is the extremely rapid motion of its leaflets during opening and closing of the valve. Although the leaflets are the most dynamic parts of the aortic valve, the motions of other parts of the valve are also important because they play a role in the opening and closing of the valve. The design of the aortic valve must be understood in the natural state of the valve, which is the functional state in vivo. High-speed studies reveal the details of leaflet configurations during periods of transition between the closed and the open positions.
