False tendons in the left ventricle of the heart in humans during pre- and postnatal periods.

Research was conducted on material consisting of 180 fetal, newborn, infant, and adult hearts of various ages. Upon opening of the left ventricle the frequency of occurrence as well as the morphology of the false tendons were examined in this heart chamber. Special attention was paid to false tendons running through the ventricular lumen. It was determined that these elements occur with similar frequency, accounting for about 40% of hearts, in all examined age groups. In fetal hearts, the greatest number of false tendons in the ventricular lumen ran between the interventricular septum and the exterior ventricular wall, finding its attachment generally just below the base of the papillary muscle. In newborn, infant and adult hearts the greatest number of false tendons connected the interventricular septum with the posterior papillary muscle.