Types of interstitial cells within the human heart valves.

Abstract

Millions of people worldwide suffer from different cardiovascular diseases. Diseases that affect the atrioventricular valve apparatus of a heart show an increasing trend every year. This, in turn, increases an interest of morphologists in the structural and functional changes of tissue and cellular components that occur in human heart valves with age. Despite numerous fundamental works about morphology of the valvular apparatus of the human heart, this issue still attracts the attention of scientists today. The modern view on the heart valves includes not only view that considers the valves like the passive mechanical structures that direct a blood. Valves are morphological components of the heart that have a complex structure, perform important functions and undergo changes with age. Cardiac surgeons are interested in creating an “active” substitute for heart valves for to prolong human life. In addition it is necessary to create substitutes that are as close as possible to the natural valve in terms of the structure and function. It would be possible thanks to the development of tissue engineering. The aim of the study. To identify and study valvular interstitial cells in the leaflets of the atrioventricular valves of the human heart.