Real mitral valve image

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Here are real mitral valve images from authoritative medical textbooks:

Real Mitral Valve - Gross Pathology

Fig. 1 - Gross specimen: Myxomatous degeneration (Mitral Valve Prolapse)

Real mitral valve gross specimen showing myxomatous degeneration with prolapse of the posterior mitral leaflet

This is an actual dissected heart specimen showing the mitral valve in a four-chamber view. The arrow points to the posterior mitral leaflet, which is ballooning (prolapsing) back into the dilated left atrium - a hallmark of myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (mitral valve prolapse). The left ventricle (brown myocardium) and the chordae tendineae (white cord-like structures) are visible below the leaflets.

Source: Robbins & Kumar Basic Pathology - FIG. 9.18. Courtesy of William D. Edwards, MD, Mayo Clinic.

Mitral Valve Apparatus - Labeled Anatomy Diagram

Fig. 2 - Complete mitral apparatus (lateral view)

Labeled diagram of the mitral valve apparatus showing anterior and posterior leaflets, annulus, chordae tendineae, and papillary muscles

This labeled illustration shows all six components of the mitral apparatus:

Annulus - anterior (fibrous, in continuity with aortic valve) and posterior (muscular, prone to dilation)
Anterior leaflet - larger radially, thicker, bears greater tensile load
Posterior leaflet - 3 lobes (scallops P1, P2, P3), longer circumferentially
Chordae tendineae - collagen/elastin cords tethering leaflets to papillary muscles
Lateral and medial papillary muscles - arise from the left ventricular wall
Commissures (posterolateral and anteromedial) - where the two leaflets meet

Source: Braunwald's Heart Disease - FIGURE 76.1

Leaflet Segmentation (Atrial View)

Fig. 3 - Carpentier segmentation scheme (atrial view looking down)

Mitral valve leaflet segmentation diagrams A and B showing Carpentier classification with A1-A3 and P1-P3 segments

Panel A (Carpentier's standard scheme): Anterior leaflet divided into A1/A2/A3; posterior leaflet into P1/P2/P3 (three scallops separated by indentations)
Panel B (Shah's modification): Further divides the middle segment into lateral (A2L, P2L) and medial (A2M, P2M) halves

Source: Braunwald's Heart Disease - FIGURE 76.2

Key anatomy summary

Structure	Detail
Leaflets	2 - anterior (larger) and posterior (3 scallops)
Annulus	Saddle-shaped; anterior part fibrous, posterior part muscular
Chordae tendineae	Primary (marginal), secondary (strut), tertiary (basal)
Papillary muscles	Anterolateral + posteromedial; arise from LV wall
Normal orifice area	~4-6 cm²

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