Trabeculae carneae

Trabeculae carneae are irregular, muscular ridges and columns that project from the inner endocardial surfaces of both ventricles of the heart, creating a sponge-like network of myocardial tissue. These structures account for a significant portion of ventricular mass and are present throughout adult life, though they originate during embryonic cardiac development.

Trabeculae carneae are composed of cardiomyocytes arranged in linear collections that extend into the ventricular cavity. They are the smallest naturally arising collections of linearly arranged myocytes in the heart.  The trabecular network creates a complex, fractal-like pattern on the inner ventricular surface.