Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional (CCRP) Practice Test

The aortic valve is the valve that connects the left ventricle to the aorta. When the left ventricle contracts during systole, it pumps oxygenated blood into the aorta through this valve. The aortic valve ensures that blood flows in the correct direction—out of the heart and into the systemic circulation—while also preventing backflow of blood into the left ventricle when it relaxes.

The pulmonary valve, in contrast, connects the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery and is responsible for directing deoxygenated blood to the lungs. The mitral valve, situated between the left atrium and the left ventricle, regulates blood flow from the atrium to the ventricle. The tricuspid valve serves a similar function on the right side of the heart, connecting the right atrium to the right ventricle. Understanding the role of each valve is crucial in cardiac physiology, as they play distinct parts in the flow of blood through the heart and into the rest of the body.