Age-dependent changes of heart valves and heart size.

The mode and extent of the regressions of heart valves, valvular rings, and tendon chords, as well as the size of atria and ventricles in 316 hearts of different age groups (macroscopically normal at autopsy), were studied. With increasing age, the valves showed marked thickening and loss of elasticity. Deposition of lipoids and calcification occur to a variable extent in the valvular tissue and rings; Valve size shows a change of minor degree, but tendon chords and papillary muscles shorten in old age. The diameters of the atria, mitral, tricuspid, pulmonary, and aortic rings increase continuously up to the 9th decade of life. The width and length of the ventricles show minor alterations in size. In old age, heart weight increases.