How Should We Describe the Mitral Valve and Its Component Parts

In this introductory chapter to our book, in the hope of providing uniformity for the chapters which follow, we begin by discussing the reasons why we describe the valve guarding the left atrioventricular junction of the human heart as the mitral valve. We then outline our preferred terms for describing its components. These components together produce the mitral valvar complex, which intimately involves the left atrioventricular junction. Making up the complex are the so-called “annulus,” the valvar leaflets, their supporting tendinous cords, the papillary muscles, and the underlying left ventricular myocardium. We provide a brief review of the reasoning underscoring our preferred nomenclature, expanding on these issues in our chapter devoted to the anatomy of the different components.