Chordae tendineae (left heart, anatomy)

The chordae tendineae of the left heart can be classified into the following groups:

• commissural chordae:
  • two main groups, anterolateral and posteromedial
  • emerge from ends of papillary muscles and divide almost immediately into multiple fibres
  • insert into free margin of valve around the area of the commissures
• leaflet chordae:
  • rough zone chordae:
    • similar in origin and insertion to those of the tricuspid valve complex
    • unique to the mitral valve are 'strut chordae' from the anterolateral and posteromedial papillary muscles; they are particularly thick rough zone chordae which insert only into the anterior leaflet
  • cleft chordae: fine chordae which insert into the free margin of a leaflet where it is partially divided by minor clefts
• basal chordae:
  • only associated with posterior leaflet
  • insert close to the junction of the leaflet with the fibrous annulus