Dense connective tissue that separates the atria from the ventricles and provides physical support for the heart. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_skeleton http://amigo.geneontology.org/amigo/term/GO:0003204 ]
Synonyms: skeleton of heart cardiac fibrous skeleton fibrous skeleton of heart heart fibrous skeleton
Term information
It is not a true skeleton, but it does provide structure and support for the heart, as well as isolating the atria from the ventricles. This allows the AV node and AV bundle to delay the wave of depolarisation such that the atria can contract and assist in ventricular filling before the ventricles themselves depolarise and contract (the AV bundle is the only part of the conduction system that passes from the atria to the ventricles in a normal heart). It also allows the valves (bicuspid, tricuspid, semilunar) to keep open by giving them structural support[WP]
trigona fibrosa
anulus fibrosus dexter cordis
trigonum fibrosum dextrum cordis
anulus fibrosus sinister cordis
trigonum fibrosum sinistrum cordis