The normal human heart has four valves. Valves, when working properly, allow blood to flow in one direction only to the different chambers of the heart. There four valves are called the mitral valve, the tricuspid valve, the aortic and pulmonary valves. Each valve works for a specific chamber of the heart. Occasionally a congenital defect or other problem can cause the valves in the heart to stop working efficiently. In this event surgery can usually correct faulty valves and restore proper blood flow to the chambers of the heart.