Dimensions of Human Adult Tricuspid Valve Annulus in the Embalmed Cadavers

Introduction: In human heart, right atrio-ventricular orifice is guarded by tricuspid valve, which lies at the junction of right atrium and right ventricle of the heart controlling and directing unidirectional blood flow during ventricular diastole. Irreparable damage to tricuspid valve calls for its replacement using prosthetic valves. Prosthesis of these synthetic valves need detail knowledge of tricuspid orifice. In present study an attempt was made to study the dimensions of tricuspid orifice. Materials and Method: The present work was done by dissecting 42 formalin fixed adult human hearts. The sex of human was not considered. Tricuspid orifice was cut opened in these specimen and following measurements were taken (a) circumference of annulus of tricuspid valve (b) diameter of tricuspid valve in two vertically perpendicular plane. Results: The circumference of the tricuspid valve annulus ranged from 7.9 cm to 12cm, average was 9.7 cm±1.029 and median -9.5cm. The diameter measured in two separate perpendicular planes at maximally separated points ranged from 1.3 cm to 4.5cm. In one plane, mean diameter was 2.1±0.43cm and median was 2cm. In second plane, mean diameter was 3.03±0.54cm and median was 2.9cm. Conclusion: These data may be useful in designing the prosthetic valves.