nomenclature
Last reviewed 01/2018
The aortic valve leaflets are called a variety of terms depending on the means of classification:
- according to embryological origin: based on the division of the embryonic truncus arteriosus into pulmonary trunk and aorta
- according to the anatomical position in the mature heart
- according to the relationship to the coronary arteries
Hence, with respect to the above systems, the following are the terms for the three leaflets:
- right; anterior; right coronary leaflet
- left; left posterior; left coronary leaflet
- posterior; right posterior; non-coronary leaflet