An aseptic valve or sanitary valve has an elongated tubular, cylindrical valve housing, with one or more top-hat diaphragms and associated valve plugs positioned transverse to the axis of the tubular valve housing. An actuator urges the stem and head of the valve plug upward so that the associated diaphragm is urged against a valve seat to close the valve. The actuator also moves these elements downward and away from the seat to open the valve. Plural valve arrangements can be joined end to end to accommodate multiple flow paths.