Final answer:
The mitral valve, also called the bicuspid valve or left atrioventricular valve, is located between the left atrium and left ventricle, with two tissue flaps that ensure one-way blood flow. It contrasts the three-cusped tricuspid valve on the right side of the heart and is essential for the double circulation system in mammals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mitral valve, also known as the bicuspid valve or the left atrioventricular valve, is a one-way valve located between the left atrium and the left ventricle of the heart. It consists of two flaps of tissue, which are attached by chordae tendineae to two papillary muscles that project from the wall of the ventricle. This structure is designed to allow blood to flow in a single direction — from the left atrium into the left ventricle — while preventing backflow during ventricular contraction.
In comparison to the right atrioventricular valve, known as the tricuspid valve, which has three cusps, the mitral valve has only two cusps or leaflets. These cusps are referred to as the anterior medial cusp and the posterior medial cusp. The function of the mitral valve is crucial for maintaining efficient circulation throughout the body, being an integral part of what is referred to as double circulation in mammals, where oxygenated blood is pumped from the heart to the organs and muscles.