I In ns si ig gh ht ts s F Fr ro om m MMi it tr ra al l L Le ea af fl le et t C Co on nf fi ig gu ur ra at ti io on ns s: : I Im mp po or rt ta an nc ce e o of f L Le ea af fl le et t T Te et th he er ri in ng g Apical displacement of the leaflets relative to the annulus is an important characteristic of the configuration of the mitral leaflets. Apical displacement of the leaflets and the coaptation relative to the annulus in patients with ischemic MR was initially observed by Ogawa et al. and by Godley, Weyman, and colleagues (Fig. 1). 6)7) In principle, the spatial position of the systolic leaflets and the coaptation can be determined by 2 superimposed and opposing forces acting on the leaflets. Increased LV pressure acts to push the leaflets toward the left atrium, while tethering force of the chordae pulls the leaflets to prevent leaflet prolapse into the left atrium. Therefore, , , M Ma as sa aa ak ki i T Ta ak ke eu uc ch hi i, , M