PAPILLARY MUSCLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of several muscles associated with the atrioventricular valves

Example:

the papillary muscles contract during systole to prevent regurgitation of blood into the atria

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("papillary muscle" is a kind of...):

cardiac muscle; heart muscle (the muscle tissue of the heart; adapted to continued rhythmic contraction)

Holonyms ("papillary muscle" is a part of...):

atrioventricular valve (either of two heart valves through which blood flows from the atria to the ventricles; prevents return of blood to the atrium)

Credits