Aortic stenosis is defined as the narrowing of which anatomical structure?

Aortic stenosis is defined as the narrowing of which anatomical structure?

• A. Enlargement of the aorta.
• B. Narrowing of the orifice between the left ventricle and the aorta.
• C. Inflammation of the aorta.
• D. Narrowing of the pulmonary valve.

Answer: (B)

Aortic stenosis means the passage the heart’s left ventricle must push blood through into the aorta is narrowed. That opening is the aortic valve orifice. So the problem is not enlargement of the aorta, nor inflammation of the aorta, nor narrowing of the pulmonary valve. It specifically refers to a reduced size of the opening between the left ventricle and the aorta, which makes left ventricular outflow more difficult and can lead to symptoms like exertional dizziness or chest pain as the ventricle works harder to eject blood.

Aortic stenosis means the passage the heart’s left ventricle must push blood through into the aorta is narrowed. That opening is the aortic valve orifice. So the problem is not enlargement of the aorta, nor inflammation of the aorta, nor narrowing of the pulmonary valve. It specifically refers to a reduced size of the opening between the left ventricle and the aorta, which makes left ventricular outflow more difficult and can lead to symptoms like exertional dizziness or chest pain as the ventricle works harder to eject blood.