5-379.a:

You have had your left ventricle connected to your aorta using a synthetic tube.

The heart pumps blood through the body. Inside the heart are 4 chambers. There are 2 heart atria and 2 ventricles. Both heart atria and both ventricles are separated from each other by a partition.

The aorta begins at the heart itself. First it runs upwards and then it arches down through the chest to the abdomen. At around the level of the navel, the aorta branches into 2 large blood vessels. These blood vessels first run to the pelvis and then to the legs.

The blood usually gets from the left ventricle to the aorta through the aortic valve. There are 4 valves in the heart. These valves ensure that the blood flows in the right direction. So they have to close tightly. They also have to open up fully so that the blood can be properly pumped out of the heart.

In your case, after surgery, the blood is getting from the left ventricle to the aorta through a synthetic tube. The tube contains a synthetic cardiac valve.