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Trabeculae carneae

The trabeculae carneae are a network of irregular muscular ridges and columns that line the inner walls of the right and left ventricles of the heart. They arise from the endocardial surface and vary in shape from ridges to bridges and free muscular columns.

These structures help reduce turbulence within the ventricles during blood flow, improve contractile efficiency, and contribute to ventricular mechanical performance. They are most prominent in the right ventricle, where they form a coarse, mesh-like pattern, and relatively finer in the left ventricle. The moderator band (septomarginal trabecula) in the right ventricle is a specialized trabecula carrying part of the cardiac conduction system.

Trabeculae carneae are clinically important in distinguishing between normal anatomy, pathological hypertrophy, or non-compaction cardiomyopathy, where trabecular prominence becomes excessive.

Synonyms

  • Ventricular trabeculae

  • Trabeculae of ventricles

  • Myocardial ridges

Function

  • Prevent suction and turbulence within ventricular chambers

  • Increase surface area and contractile strength of ventricular myocardium

  • Contribute to ventricular wall compliance during contraction and relaxation

  • The moderator band carries conduction fibers (right ventricle only)

  • Serve as landmarks in cardiac imaging and interventions

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Trabeculae carneae appear as low-signal intensity muscular ridges projecting into the ventricular lumen

  • Surrounding ventricular blood pool appears dark (flow void), providing contrast

T2-weighted images:

  • Trabeculae appear as intermediate-to-low signal structures against the hyperintense blood pool

  • Prominent trabeculations are well seen in cases of non-compaction cardiomyopathy

STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

  • Suppresses fat, highlighting the trabecular muscular composition

  • Pathology such as edema or infiltration in trabeculae appears hyperintense

T1 Post-Contrast (Gadolinium-enhanced):

  • Trabeculae themselves show normal myocardial enhancement

  • Abnormal enhancement suggests fibrosis, infarction, or cardiomyopathy

  • Useful in differentiating trabeculae from thrombus or masses

MRI Non-Contrast Cardiac-Gated 3D Imaging:

  • Demonstrates trabeculae as fine muscular ridges within ventricular cavities

  • Critical for diagnosing left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC), where trabecular depth-to-wall thickness ratio is increased

CT Appearance

Contrast-Enhanced CT (Cardiac CT):

  • Trabeculae appear as soft tissue-density muscular ridges projecting into contrast-opacified ventricular cavities

  • Well visualized in high-resolution, ECG-gated cardiac CT

  • Important for identifying LV non-compaction, differentiating thrombus vs trabeculation, and surgical planning

CT images

Trabeculae carneae of left ventricle CT axial image -img-00000-00000

MRI image

Trabeculae carneae of left ventricle mri image