What are the three main types of valvular dysfunction?

The three main types of valvular dysfunction are indeed stenosis, regurgitation, and prolapse. Each of these conditions represents a different way that heart valves can become impaired, leading to various physiological consequences on cardiac function.

Stenosis occurs when a valve becomes narrowed, making it difficult for blood to flow through. This increased pressure can lead to hypertrophy of the heart muscle and ultimately heart failure if left untreated.

Regurgitation, on the other hand, is characterized by the improper closure of a valve, allowing blood to flow backward into the previous chamber instead of moving forward. This can cause volume overload in the heart, again potentially leading to failure over time.

Prolapse refers to a condition where a valve leaflets bulge back into the chamber they are supposed to close off, often affecting the mitral valve. This can also contribute to regurgitation and result in similar complications.

These three types of dysfunction encompass the main ways that valves can fail to perform their intended role in maintaining unidirectional blood flow and contribute significantly to cardiovascular pathology. The other options contain either terms that are not directly related to valvular dysfunction (like myopathy or occlusion) or do not accurately describe the primary categories of dysfunction characteristic of