noun
any of several muscles associated with the atrioventricular valves
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the papillary muscles contract during systole to prevent regurgitation of blood into the atria
• Hypernyms: ↑cardiac muscle, ↑heart muscle
• Part Holonyms: ↑atrioventricular valve
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noun : one of the small muscular columns attached at one end to the chordae tendineae and at the other to the wall of the ventricle and that maintain tension on the chordae as the ventricle contracts
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Anat.
one of the small bundles of muscles attached to the ventricle walls and to the chordae tendineae that tighten these tendons during ventricular contraction.
[1885-90]
Useful english dictionary. 2012.