Changes

* Primarily occurs in the mitral valve.

* Primarily occurs in the mitral valve.

* Results in slowly developing heart failure

* Results in slowly developing heart failure

**The valves are swollen and misshapen, so the heart cannot pump blood effectively to the circulation from the left ventricle. *** A substantial proportion of the blood passes back into the left atrium, compromising the filling from the pulmonary vein. **** Leads to back pressure on the pulmonary capillaries with oedema formation in the lungs.  

* The valves become swollen and misshapen

***** Heard as moist sounds on auscultation of the lungs.

** The heart cannot pump blood effectively to the circulation from the left ventricle.

*** Blood passes back into the left atrium, compromising the filling from the pulmonary vein.

**** Leads to back pressure on the pulmonary capillaries.

***** Oedema forms in the lungs, and can be heard as moist sounds on ausculatation.  

***** Reduces the oxygenation of blood leading to exercise intolerance.  

***** Reduces the oxygenation of blood leading to exercise intolerance.  

**** Failure of the left side eventually compromises the function of the right side.

*** Failure of the left side eventually compromises the function of the right side.

***** There is pooling of blood in the venous system i.e. in the liver.

**** There is pooling of blood in the venous system i.e. in the liver.

===Hyaline Degeneration===

===Hyaline Degeneration===