title: Coil-like structure of the inner core of chordae tendineae.
abstract: Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the chordae tendineae in young (approximately 20 years old) and old (approximately 85 years old) cadavers. A network of collagen fibrils was observed in both the outer and intersurface layers of the chordae tendineae. In young subjects, a regularly arranged series of disconnected collagenous ring-like structures surrounded the longitudinal collagen bundles forming the inner core of the chordae tendineae. In old subjects, the ring-like structures of the chordae tendineae were few or absent. The ring-like structures may be related to reducing mechanical stress during the tightening, twisting, and slackening of the chordae tendineae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Dentistry at Tokyo, Nippon Dental University, 1-9-20 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8159, Japan. iwaoa1@tokyo.ndu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Iwao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D002815:Chordae Tendineae / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016276:Ventricular Function
chemical_list: D024022:Fibrillar Collagens