Figure 8  .

Short axis view at the aortic valve leaflet tips showing many characteristics of congenital bicuspid aortic valve: there is fusion of the left (L) and right (R) cusps. The raphe gives the appearance of a commissure dividing the valve into three leaflets when closed. The valve orifice during systole is oval shaped rather than triangular. The sinuses are asymmetric and unequal in size. The aortic valve area can be measured accurately by planimetry in this view. R, right coronary cusp; L, left coronary cusp; N, non-coronary cusp.