Atheromatous bicuspid aortic valve. 3D computed tomography (CT) scan of a 62-year-old woman's bicuspid aortic valve, a congenital deformity, with atheromatous deposits. The aorta is the body's main artery, through which blood is pumped from the heart through the aortic valve and around the body. The aortic valve normally has three cusps or leaflets, but in a small proportion of people it has two cusps. This condition, which is present from birth, can have no effect, or it can lead to complications, including the fatty deposits (atheromata) seen here. The valve is open in the heart's systolic phase. For a healthy bicuspid aortic valve, see image C040/3366. |