(vălv)
[Pronunciation]
[L. valva, leaf of a folding door]

Any of various membranous structures in a hollow organ or passage that temporarily close to permit the flow of fluid in one direction only.

Subentries:
aortic valve
Béraud's valve
bicuspid valve
Bjork-Shiley heart valve
cardiac valve
coronary valve
external nasal valve
Houston's valve
ileocecal valve
left atrioventricular valve
mitral valve
nasal valve
prosthetic heart valve
pulmonary valve
pyloric valve
reducing valve
right atrioventricular valve
semilunar valve
thebesian valve
tricuspid valve
valve of Varolius