Strand-like muscle fibers in the heart tied to heart failure risk

In humans, the heart is the first functional organ to develop, starting to beat by four weeks after conception. During the development, the heart grows an intricate and complex network of muscle fibers, known as trabeculae, forming geometric patterns in the inner lining of the heart. The muscular band of heart tissue called the moderator band or the septomarginal trabecula is found in the right ventricle of the heart and was first described by Leonardo da Vinci in his exploration of human anatomy. Previously, scientists believe that these strand-like muscle structures have no use beyond the heart's early development. Now, a team of researchers at Imperial College London has found that these structures play a pivotal role in the electrical activity and pumping ability of the heart.