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Left ventricular bands. A normal anatomical feature
Insights
Delicate fibromuscular structures in the left ventricle are common in hearts across all ages and species. Echocardiography confirms these findings, suggesting they are a normal anatomical variation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Anatomy
- Echocardiography
- Pathology
Background:
- Fibromuscular structures within the left ventricle are not well-characterized.
- Their prevalence and clinical significance remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and morphological characteristics of discrete fibromuscular structures in the left ventricle.
- To assess the utility of echocardiography in identifying these structures.
Main Methods:
- Morphological examination of 686 human hearts (all ages, various conditions) and 159 animal hearts.
- Retrospective echocardiographic review of 179 children and prospective echocardiographic study of 800 adults.
Main Results:
- Fibromuscular structures were identified in 48% of human hearts and 95% of animal hearts.
- Echocardiography detected compatible findings in 21.7% of children and 0.4% of adults.
Conclusions:
- Discrete fibromuscular structures in the left ventricle are a common finding in both humans and animals.
- These structures are likely a normal anatomical variant, with echocardiographic detection varying by age group.
Abstract:
Discrete delicate fibromuscular structures crossing the cavity of the left ventricle were identified on morphological examination in 329 (48%) of 686 hearts from patients of all ages with congenital heart disease, acquired heart disease, or normal hearts. These structures were also present in 151 (95%) of 159 hearts from animals of six species. Cross sectional echocardiographic findings compatible with these structures were obtained in 39 (21.7%) of 179 children reviewed retrospectively and in three of 800 (0.4%) adults studied prospectively. These structures appear to be a normal anatomical finding.