Cardiac valves and valvular pathology: update on function, disease, repair, and replacement.

We summarize herein selected contributions over the past several decades by pathologists and others to the diagnosis, understanding, and management of valvular heart disease, including the structural basis of valve function, the pathology/pathobiology of common naturally occurring and iatrogenic lesions, developments in valve substitution, and novel approaches to valve repair, replacement, and regeneration.