Describe the structure and function of the tricuspid valve.

The tricuspid valve, located in the right side of the heart, has three leaflets that allow it to seal effectively across the larger, less rigid right atrioventricular orifice. This three-leaflet structure enables the valve to open easily, which is crucial for the right ventricle's function as a low-pressure, high-volume pump sending blood to the lungs. Supported by papillary muscles and chordae tendineae, the tricuspid valve efficiently prevents the backflow of deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle into the right atrium, ensuring robust structural integrity and sealing.