What happens when the aortic valve can’t close properly? Let’s break aortic regurgitation down in 3D 🫀 The aortic valve plays a vital role in maintaining unidirectional blood flow from the heart to the body. But when the ascending aorta dilates, the valve’s annulus (ring) may stretch too—preventing full valve closure. This leads to aortic regurgitation, where blood leaks back into the left ventricle after each heartbeat. The heart tries to compensate for the extra volume by dilating its muscula