Biaxial Compliance Changes of Mitral Valve Leaflets Following Radiofrequency Ablation

The mitral valve (MV), located between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart, is responsible for preventing retrograde blood flow by closing during systole. There are two MV leaflets, anterior and posterior. The anterior is the larger of the two and semicircular; the posterior leaflet is more rectangular and can be subdivided into three scallops, the middle scallop being the largest in most human hearts. The two leaflets are anchored to the wall of the left ventricle by the chordae tendinae. The MV annulus forms a complete fibrous ring anchored along the anterior leaflet (1).