What are the cords attached to the atrioventricular valves called?

• A. Chordae Tendinae
• B. Aorta
• C. Pulmonary Veins
• D. Coronary Vessels

Answer: (A)

The cords are the chordae tendineae, the tendinous strings that anchor the atrioventricular valve leaflets (mitral and tricuspid) to the papillary muscles inside the ventricles. Their job is to prevent the valve leaflets from flipping backward into the atria when the ventricles contract, helping to keep the valves closed and ensuring one-way blood flow. This system works with the papillary muscles, which pull on the cords to tense the leaflets during systole. For context, the aorta, pulmonary veins, and coronary vessels are other heart structures: the aorta carries blood from the left ventricle to the body, the pulmonary veins bring blood from the lungs to the left atrium, and the coronary vessels supply the heart muscle itself.