Question

If the tricuspid valve fails to open, then

• A. blood could not enter the pulmonary veins, therefore, it could not reach the lungs
• B. blood could not enter the pulmonary artery, therefore, it could not reach the heart
• C. blood could not enter the pulmonary artery, therefore, it could not reach the lungs
• D. blood could not enter the pulmonary veins, therefore, it could not reach the heart

Answer 1

The correct option is C blood could not enter the pulmonary artery, therefore, it could not reach the lungs

The tricuspid valve is made up of three crescent shaped valves opening into the right ventricle, allowing the blood to flow from the right atrium into the right ventricle. This happens during the atrial systole.

During the ventricular systole, the tricuspid valve shuts, thereby preventing the backflow of blood into the right atrium. The ventricular systole forces the blood to flow into the pulmonary artery and to the lungs from the right ventricle.

The pulmonary veins are the veins that transfer oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart (left atrium).