Aortic valve donation (image 3 of 3). Gloved hands of a surgeon holding a donated aortic valve that has been packaged ready for storage. The aortic valve lies between the left ventricle (main pump- ing chamber) of the heart and the aorta, the body's largest artery. Its function is to allow blood to flow out of the chamber but to prevent backwash. The valve can be donated & transplanted into patients whose valve is malfunctioning due to disease. The packaging allows the valve to be deep frozen for use when required. (See photo number M560/245 for a picture of the aortic valve being dissected from a donated heart and M560/246 for the removed valve itself.)