the valve between the left ventricle and the ascending aorta, consisting of three fibrous semilunar cusps (valvules), located in the adult in anterior, right posterior, and left posterior positions; they are named, however, in accordance with their embryonic derivation in which the anteriorly-located cusp is the right cusp (above which the right coronary artery arises), the left posteriorly-positioned cusp is designated as the left cusp (above which the left coronary artery arises), and the right posteriorly-positioned cusp is designated as the posterior or non-coronary cusp. Syn: valva aortae [NA].