Endocarditis involves infection of which part of the heart?

Endocarditis involves infection of which part of the heart?

• A. Heart muscle
• B. Outer surface
• C. Inner lining and valves
• D. Chambers

Answer: (C)

Endocarditis targets the inner lining of the heart and its valves. The inner lining, called the endocardium, covers the chambers and lines the valve surfaces, so infection tends to involve the valves most prominently. Microbes in the bloodstream can adhere to damaged valve tissue and form vegetations, disrupting valve function and potentially sending emboli elsewhere. This is different from infections of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or the outer sac around the heart (pericarditis), or infections that involve the chambers themselves, which is not the typical focus of endocarditis.

Endocarditis targets the inner lining of the heart and its valves. The inner lining, called the endocardium, covers the chambers and lines the valve surfaces, so infection tends to involve the valves most prominently. Microbes in the bloodstream can adhere to damaged valve tissue and form vegetations, disrupting valve function and potentially sending emboli elsewhere. This is different from infections of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or the outer sac around the heart (pericarditis), or infections that involve the chambers themselves, which is not the typical focus of endocarditis.