Fig. 2

Morphology of the mitral valve according to the Carpentier’s classification. The posterior mitral leaflet is naturally separated by cleft like indentations into 3 scallops (P1, P2 and P3). The corresponding segments of the anterior leaflet are called A1, A2 and A3. The long axis 3-chamber view will cut the A2 and P2 scallops of the mitral valve, the 2-chamber view the A1, A2 and P3 scallops, and the 4-chamber view the P1, A2 and A3 scallops