Relationships of the relative volumes of structural elements and biochemical components of aortic valve tissues

1. The main support elements of the heart valve contain much collagen and collagen fibers oriented in the direction of loading. 2. The main damping elements of the heart valve have a high content of elastin and elastic fibers oriented both in longitudinal and in transverse direction. 3. The maximum relative volume content of the ground substance was established in all elements of the semilunar valve, including its Arantius' nodule; a high content of ground substance was determined biochemically also in tissues of the fibrous ring.