The mitral valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart. It allows blood to flow from the atrium to the ventricle and prevents blood from flowing backward into the atrium as the heart beats.
The mitral valve is one of two atrioventricular valves (AV valves) in the heart. The other AV valve is the tricuspid valve. The AV valves are between the atria and the ventricles. There are a total of four valves in the heart. The other two valves allow blood to exit from the ventricles when they pump and prevent blood from flowing backward when they relax and fill. When the ventricles fill, the AV valves open an allow blood to enter. This coordinated opening and closing of the four valves keeps blood flowing in a forward direction.
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