Aortic annulus and native aortic valve leaflets

The aortic annulus and native aortic valve leaflets are the structural components of the aortic valve, which facilitates unidirectional blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta. The annulus is a fibrous ring that serves as the base of the aortic root, while the leaflets (or cusps) are thin, flexible tissues that open during systole and close during diastole (StatPearls, 2023). These structures are not molecular targets for drugs but are the primary site of pathology in calcific aortic valve disease, where fibro-calcific remodeling leads to stenosis or insufficiency (PubMed, 2021). In clinical practice, these anatomical features are the physical targets for mechanical interventions such as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), where a prosthetic valve is deployed to displace the native leaflets and anchor within the annulus (NIH, 2022). Complications associated with targeting these structures include paravalvular leaks and conduction disturbances due to the proximity of the atrioventricular node to the annulus.

Other names

Aortic valve apparatusAortic rootAortic valve cuspsAortic valve leaflets

Mechanical replacement or repair (e.g., TAVR) to restore hemodynamic function by anchoring a prosthesis within the annulus and displacing native leaflets.