Legends to Figures

Figure 1. As is correctly stated by the authors of the response to our letter published in JCTVS Open,4 a “cusp” is the feature “formed by the intersection of 2 arcs or curved lines”. As can be seen, such “cusps” are to be found in the atrioventricular valves, as shown for the tricuspid valve in panel A, as well as in the arterial valves (panel B). In both valves, however, the feature is usually described as a “commissure”, rather than a “cusp”.
Figure 2. The images show selected cuts made from a computed tomographic three-dimensional reconstruction of the normal trileaflet and trisinuate aortic root. Panels A and B show short (A) and long axis (B) views positioned over a two-dimensional plane constructed at the level of the virtual basal ring. The superior extent of the myocardial crescents incorporated into the coronary sinuses is outlined with an orange line. It is the junction between the sinusal walls and the myocardial crescents that dictates the anatomical ventriculo-arterial junction, which is not present in the non-coronary sinus (N). The semilunar hinge lines of the valvar leaflets, shown by the red lines, extend from their nadir at the plane of the virtual basal ring, shown by the green line, to their zenith at the sinutubular junction, which is marked by the blue line. These hinge lines dictate the hemodynamic ventriculo-arterial junction. The interleaflet triangles, marked by the purple triangles, are positioned between these hinge lines. The interleaflet triangle between the coronary aortic sinuses has muscle at its base. This forms another part of the anatomical ventriculo-arterial junction. The interleaflet triangle between the right (R) and non-coronary sinuses has the membranous septum (colored yellow) at its base, with the septum positioned so as to be transected by the plane of the virtual basal ring. Panels C and D then show further virtual dissections, with panel C showing a cut between the right and non-coronary sinuses, and Panel D showing a cut through the two coronary aortic sinuses. Further abbreviations: L, left coronary sinus; LCA, main stem of the left coronary artery; RCA, right coronary artery.
Video 1 . The normal aortic root as shown in Figure 2A and B is shown, initially viewing the root in short axis, and then rotating 360 degrees around its long axis. The non-coronary sinus is seen first, followed by the right, and then the left coronary aortic sinuses.