Chordae Tendineae of the Right Atrioventricular Valve Displayed in Section

Description

Arising from the apices of the right ventricular papillary muscles, the chordae tendineae course superiorly and medially to insert along the free margins and ventricular surfaces of the anterior, posterior, and septal cusps of the tricuspid valve. An anterior sectional perspective opens the right heart so the tendinous cords can be followed from their muscular origins in the trabeculated right ventricular wall toward the atrioventricular junction. Primary (marginal) chordae anchor the leaflet edges, while thicker secondary chordae spread to the leaflet body, forming a suspensory network between papillary muscle and cusp. Fine threads. Clear relationships. Valve competence depends on this subvalvular apparatus functioning as a unit, and section views make the geometry obvious in a way surface renderings do not. Tricuspid regurgitation often reflects right ventricular dilation with papillary muscle displacement and chordal tethering, producing restricted leaflet coaptation even when the leaflets themselves look normal. Surgeons repairing the tricuspid valve, and interventionalists working with edge-to-edge devices, think in terms of chordal distribution and papillary muscle position to avoid creating stenosis or worsening tethering. Cardiology and gross anatomy instructors use this plate to teach why systole tightens the chordae without pulling the cusps into the atrium, and to contrast the tricuspid apparatus with the mitral valve’s two-papillary arrangement. It also fits well in surgical atlases, echo education modules, and informed-consent graphics describing functional tricuspid regurgitation and repair strategies. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.