trabeculae carneae (heart, anatomy)

Last reviewed 01/2018

The trabeculae carneae of the heart are a number of projections of the contractile myocyte - myocardial - layer of the ventricles. They are covered by endocardium. They may present in a number of forms:

  • surface elevations with grooves between them
  • ridges, fixed at both ends to either the ventricular wall or septum, but the intermediate section of muscle is freely mobile within the cavity
  • papillary muscles