Final answer:
Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) is a heart condition involving the improper closure of the mitral valve, causing blood to flow backward (regurgitation) and typically resulting in a heart murmur.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) is a condition where the mitral valve of the heart does not close properly. In MVP, one or both of the valve's cusps are forced backward by the force of the blood. This occurs when the chordae tendineae are damaged or broken, leading to a failure in the valve's closure mechanism. Blood consequently flows backward, a condition known as regurgitation, which disrupts the normal one-way flow of blood. Clinically, this is often detected by a heart murmur heard using a stethoscope.
Other heart valve disorders include stenosis and various insufficiencies, each associated with different types of malfunctions and symptoms. While stenosis involves valves becoming rigid and potentially calcifying, prolapse specifically refers to the inability of the valve to effectively close, leading to the aforementioned regurgitation. Mitral regurgitation is one of the most common valve disorders and should not be confused with conditions such as mitral stenosis or blockages.