Certain alterations of left atrial and left ventricular function in patients with mitral stenosis and sinus rhythm are reviewed; mobility of the mitral valve complex is emphasized since it influences obstructive dynamics and physical findings. High fidelity pressure recordings and simultaneous intracardiac sound correlate with cineangiographic observations of mitral valve ascent and descent phases to provide an evolving perspective in mitral stenosis that has day-to-day clinical applicability.