Question

State the exact location of the following structure: Chordae tendineae

Answer 1

Hint: Chordae tendineae is also known as “Heartstrings” or “Tendinous chords”. These are made up of fibrous tissue with string-like bands. These issues originate from papillary muscles. These muscles project inwardly from the walls of the ventricle of the heart.

Complete answer: Chordae tendinae are string-like bands or networks and interconnections of muscles that help ensure that the mechanical force acting on the chordae of the heart is distributed uniformly. These tissue bands originate from papillary tissue that inwardly projects from the walls of the ventricles of the heart. The string-like bands are made up of fibrous tissue. These tissues attach to the cusps of the lower chamber of the heart. Thus, they are also called tendinous cords or heartstrings. The chordae tendinae are placed between the papillary muscles and the edges of the tricuspid and mitral valve. The tough band of fibrous tissue that makes Heartstrings comprises elastin, endothelial cells and collagen. It also serves as an important structure of the ‘Eustachian valve’ of the inferior vena cava due to its flexible and inelastic lateral cord structure. The function of chordae tendinous is to shrink the fibrous tissue during atrial systole. They prevent back flowing of blood to the atria. The tendinous cords pull the cusps of the valves. This prevents the valves from swinging back in the upper heart chamber.

Note: During the ventricular systole, the thick muscular walls of the ventricles contract. It occurs due to the higher pressure than arteries. The contraction of the ventricles leads to the closure of atrioventricular valves. This mechanism prevents blood from flowing back into the atria. A low-pressure gradient occurs simultaneously when the blood passes from atria to ventricles. All of this is because of tendinous cords as they pull the flaps of the valves down preventing them from swinging back into the upper chamber.