
The papillary muscles are muscles located in the ventricles of the heart. There are five in total: three in the right ventricle and two in the left ventricle. The blood supply to the left anterolateral papillary muscles comes from branches of the left coronary artery, while the left posteromedial papillary muscles are usually supplied by the right coronary artery. The right coronary artery also supplies the anterolateral papillary muscle, along with the left anterior descending and diagonal or marginal branch of the circumflex artery. The posteromedial papillary muscle is particularly vulnerable to ischemic episodes and myocardial infarction due to its single blood supply system. Papillary muscle rupture can be caused by myocardial infarction, and they are the last portion of the heart to be perfused.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | In the ventricles of the heart |
| Number | 5 in total (3 in the right ventricle and 2 in the left ventricle) |
| Names | Anterior, posterior, septal, anterolateral, posteromedial |
| Blood supply | Anterolateral muscle: left anterior descending artery - diagonal branch (LAD) and left circumflex artery - obtuse marginal branch (LCX); Posteromedial muscle: right coronary artery |
| Function | Prevent inversion or prolapse of atrioventricular valves on systole (or ventricular contraction) |
| Contraction | Begins shortly before ventricular systole and maintains tension throughout |
| Abnormalities | Fibrosis/necrosis, calcification, congenital disorders, neoplasms |
| Evaluation | Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 3D linear distance measurement, myocardial tagging techniques, catheter ablation |
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What You'll Learn

Anterolateral papillary muscle blood supply
The papillary muscles are located in the ventricles of the heart, with three in the right ventricle and two in the left ventricle. The left ventricular papillary muscles are small myocardial structures that play a crucial role in the functioning of the mitral valve and the left ventricle. Typically, there are two groups of papillary muscles in the left ventricle: the anterolateral and the posteromedial groups.
The anterolateral papillary muscle has a dual blood supply, receiving blood from the left anterior descending artery and the diagonal or marginal branch of the circumflex artery. The left anterior descending artery supplies blood to the anteroseptal wall of the left ventricle, while the diagonal branch supplies blood to the anterolateral wall. The dual blood supply of the anterolateral papillary muscle makes it less susceptible to rupture compared to the posteromedial papillary muscle, which has a single blood supply.
The anterolateral papillary muscle is an important component of the mitral valve complex. It arises from the area between the apical and middle thirds of the left ventricular wall and provides chordae to both leaflets of the mitral valve. The mitral valve's function is to prevent the backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium during systole. The anterolateral papillary muscle contracts before ventricular systole and maintains tension throughout, ensuring that the mitral valve remains closed during ventricular contraction.
The anterolateral papillary muscle is also susceptible to rupture, although less commonly than the posteromedial papillary muscle. Rupture of the anterolateral papillary muscle can occur due to myocardial infarction, which is a sudden interruption of blood supply to the heart muscle. In the case of anterolateral papillary muscle rupture, acute mitral regurgitation can occur, leading to potentially life-threatening complications such as cardiogenic shock and pulmonary edema.
Overall, the anterolateral papillary muscle plays a critical role in maintaining the proper functioning of the mitral valve and the left ventricle. Its dual blood supply helps protect against rupture, but it can still be susceptible to damage in certain pathological conditions, particularly those affecting the coronary arteries.
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Posteromedial papillary muscle blood supply
The papillary muscles are pillar-like muscles found within the cavity of the ventricles, attached to their walls. There are five papillary muscles in the heart: three in the right ventricle (anterior, posterior, and septal) and two in the left ventricle (anterolateral and posteromedial).
The posteromedial papillary muscle is supplied by the right coronary artery, which is a branch of the posterior descending artery. In some cases, the posteromedial papillary muscle may receive blood supply from branches of the left circumflex artery. This is due to the dominant circulation in the heart.
The posteromedial papillary muscle is particularly prone to injury from myocardial infarction due to its single blood supply system. Rupture of the posteromedial muscle is 6 to 12 times more frequent compared to that of the anterolateral muscle, which has a dual blood supply. Papillary muscle rupture is a rare but potentially fatal complication that can lead to severe mitral valve regurgitation, acute cardiogenic shock, and pulmonary edema.
The mitral valve function is integrally related to the ventricle. The posteromedial papillary muscle usually has two bodies or heads, and each papillary muscle provides chordae to both leaflets. The wide variation in the morphology of papillary muscles can be asymptomatic or associated with symptoms related to LV outflow tract obstruction, often linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
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Papillary muscle contraction
The papillary muscles are muscles located in the ventricles of the heart. There are five total papillary muscles in the heart: three in the right ventricle and two in the left ventricle. They attach to the cusps of the atrioventricular valves (also known as the mitral and tricuspid valves) via the chordae tendineae.
Papillary muscles contract to prevent inversion or prolapse of the atrioventricular valves on systole (or ventricular contraction). The contraction of the papillary muscles also helps to prevent leakage through the AV valves during systole. The papillary muscles of both the right and left ventricles begin to contract shortly before ventricular systole and maintain tension throughout. This prevents regurgitation, the backward flow of ventricular blood into the atrial cavities, by bracing the atrioventricular valves against prolapse.
The nature of the attachment of the papillary muscles to the heart wall can affect their function. The papillary muscles do not attach directly to the solid heart wall but rather originate from a network of trabeculae. The interruption of the papillary muscles has been observed to affect heart wall motion, suggesting that forces transmitted to the wall from the papillary muscles may help determine patterns of wall motion.
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Papillary muscle abnormalities
The papillary muscles are located in the ventricles of the heart and play a crucial role in valve function. There are five papillary muscles in the heart: three in the right ventricle and two in the left ventricle. These muscles contract to prevent the inversion or prolapse of the atrioventricular valves, maintaining proper blood flow.
Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) and apically displaced papillary muscle (ADPM) are distinct conditions that can produce similar electrocardiographic abnormalities, including giant T-wave inversions and increased QRS voltage. Differentiating between ApHCM and ADPM is crucial as they have different prognoses and treatments. In athletes, papillary muscle abnormalities such as hypertrophy and apical displacement have been linked to lateral T-wave inversion, although these abnormalities do not typically lead to disqualification from sports.
Cardiac imaging techniques, such as cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and echocardiograms, play a vital role in evaluating papillary muscle abnormalities. These techniques provide morphological and functional information, aiding in the accurate diagnosis and management of conditions affecting the papillary muscles.
In summary, papillary muscle abnormalities can have various causes and presentations, ranging from congenital disorders to acquired conditions like Barlow's disease and ventricular dilatation. Accurate diagnosis and differentiation from conditions with similar presentations, such as ApHCM and ADPM, are essential for appropriate patient management and prognosis.
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Papillary muscle rupture
The papillary muscles are small myocardial structures located in the ventricles of the heart. They play a critical role in maintaining mitral valve function by preventing ventricular blood regurgitation and stabilising the valves during systole. The rupture of these muscles is a rare but potentially fatal complication, often occurring after a myocardial infarction or due to infective endocarditis.
The heart contains five papillary muscles: three in the right ventricle (anterior, posterior, and septal) and two in the left ventricle (anterolateral and posteromedial). The anterolateral muscle receives a dual blood supply from the left anterior descending artery and the left circumflex artery, while the posteromedial muscle is supplied solely by the posterior descending coronary artery. This single blood supply makes the posteromedial muscle more susceptible to rupture following a myocardial infarction.
The rupture of the papillary muscles can lead to severe mitral valve regurgitation, causing acute life-threatening cardiogenic shock and pulmonary edema. Urgent medical intervention is required, often in the form of mitral valve replacement surgery. Without timely treatment, the mortality rate is very high.
The diagnosis of papillary muscle rupture can be made through echocardiography, specifically with transoesophageal echocardiography and two-dimensional imaging techniques. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging is also used to evaluate the anatomy and function of the papillary muscles, providing valuable morphological and functional information.
In summary, papillary muscle rupture is a rare but severe complication that requires immediate medical attention. It is typically associated with myocardial infarction and can lead to life-threatening consequences if left untreated. A thorough understanding of this condition is crucial for healthcare professionals to effectively manage and treat affected patients.
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Frequently asked questions
The papillary muscles are perfused by the left anterior descending artery, the diagonal branch, the circumflex artery, and the right coronary artery.
The left anterior descending artery supplies blood to the anterolateral papillary muscle.
The right coronary artery supplies blood to the posteromedial papillary muscle.
Yes, the posteromedial papillary muscle is particularly prone to injury from myocardial infarction due to its single system of blood supply.











































