any of the tendons extending from the papillary muscles to the atrioventricular valves and preventing the valves from moving into the atria during ventricular contraction.
Main Entry: chorda ten·din·ea Pronunciation: -"ten-'din-E-& Function: noun Inflected Form: pluralchordaeten·din·e·ae/-E-"E/ : any of the delicate tendinous cords that are attached to the edges of the atrioventricular valves of the heart and to thepapillary muscles and serve to prevent the valves from being pushed into the atrium during the ventricular contraction
[kawr-duh ten-din-ee-uh] 
