What happens to mitral valve velocity during inspiration?

During inspiration, there is an increase in venous return to the right side of the heart due to the negative pressure created in the thoracic cavity. This effect leads to a temporary shift in the balance of blood flow between the right and left sides of the heart.

As the right heart fills more due to this increased venous return, it can cause a slight decrease in left ventricular filling during early diastole. However, the overall effect on mitral valve velocity, which is assessed during diastole when the valve opens to allow blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle, is that it tends to increase. This is because the systemic vascular resistance and flow dynamics are affected during inspiration, ultimately allowing for a greater velocity of blood flow across the mitral valve.

Consequently, mitral valve velocity is generally observed to increase during inspiration due to these physiological changes in circulation. It reflects the enhanced flow dynamics and pressure gradients created during this phase of respiration.