Which of the following is a cause of mitral regurgitation?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a cause of mitral regurgitation?

Mitral regurgitation happens when the mitral valve can’t close properly during systole, letting blood flow backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium. Annular dilatation is a common mechanism, especially in functional MR. When the mitral annulus enlarges, the leaflets can’t coapt across the entire annular ring, creating a gap that allows regurgitation. LV dilation from conditions like ischemic heart disease or dilated cardiomyopathy often drives this annular enlargement and can also widen the gap by tethering the leaflets through displaced papillary muscles, worsening incomplete closure. The other options don’t directly cause MR: aortic coarctation is a narrowing of the aorta, not a mitral valve issue; pulmonary embolism affects the pulmonary circulation and right heart, not the mitral valve mechanism; tricuspid stenosis involves the tricuspid valve on the right side, not the mitral valve.

Mitral regurgitation happens when the mitral valve can’t close properly during systole, letting blood flow backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium. Annular dilatation is a common mechanism, especially in functional MR. When the mitral annulus enlarges, the leaflets can’t coapt across the entire annular ring, creating a gap that allows regurgitation. LV dilation from conditions like ischemic heart disease or dilated cardiomyopathy often drives this annular enlargement and can also widen the gap by tethering the leaflets through displaced papillary muscles, worsening incomplete closure.

The other options don’t directly cause MR: aortic coarctation is a narrowing of the aorta, not a mitral valve issue; pulmonary embolism affects the pulmonary circulation and right heart, not the mitral valve mechanism; tricuspid stenosis involves the tricuspid valve on the right side, not the mitral valve.

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