The chordae tendineae are anchored by which structures?

The chordae tendineae are anchored by which structures?

• A. Papillary muscles
• B. Pectinate muscles
• C. Trabeculae carneae
• D. Interventricular septum

Answer: (A)

Chordae tendineae act as the strings that hold the atrioventricular valve leaflets in place during heartbeats. They are anchored to the papillary muscles, which are small muscles projecting from the inner walls of the ventricles. When the ventricles contract, the papillary muscles also tighten, pulling on the chordae and preventing the valve leaflets from bulging backward into the atria (prolapsing). This coordination keeps one-way flow intact. The other muscular structures mentioned have different roles and locations: pectinate muscles line the atrial walls and are not involved in anchoring the valve leaflets; trabeculae carneae are muscular ridges on the ventricular walls that assist with ventricular contraction, not with valve tethering; and the interventricular septum is the wall separating the two ventricles. None of these serve as the anchoring point for the chordae tendineae.

Chordae tendineae act as the strings that hold the atrioventricular valve leaflets in place during heartbeats. They are anchored to the papillary muscles, which are small muscles projecting from the inner walls of the ventricles. When the ventricles contract, the papillary muscles also tighten, pulling on the chordae and preventing the valve leaflets from bulging backward into the atria (prolapsing). This coordination keeps one-way flow intact.

The other muscular structures mentioned have different roles and locations: pectinate muscles line the atrial walls and are not involved in anchoring the valve leaflets; trabeculae carneae are muscular ridges on the ventricular walls that assist with ventricular contraction, not with valve tethering; and the interventricular septum is the wall separating the two ventricles. None of these serve as the anchoring point for the chordae tendineae.