How to Pronounce Chordae Tendineae Rupture

Say it like this: KOR-dee ten-DIN-ee-ee RUP-cher. The first part rhymes with "cordy," the middle part sounds like "tender" with extra syllables, and the last part rhymes with "rupture" in "structure." The stress falls on the first syllable of the first word: KOR-dee.

Many people stress the wrong syllable and say "kor-DAY" instead of "KOR-dee" for the first word. Others rush through "tendineae" and say it like "ten-DIN-ee" instead of carefully pronouncing all four syllables: ten-DIN-ee-ee.

Break it down like this: CHOR-dae TEN-DIN-ee-ee RUP-ture. The whole phrase has 9 syllables total, with the main stress on CHOR and a secondary stress on TEN.

Chordae tendineae are small, string-like cords inside your heart that anchor the valve flaps to the heart muscle. The name literally comes from Latin and Greek words meaning "tendon strings" or "stringy tendons."

Rupture means a tear or break in something. In this case, it refers to a break in those heart valve cords, which is why the full term describes a tear in the chordae tendineae.

Yes, doctors sometimes just say "chord rupture" or "CTR" for short. You might also hear "papillary muscle rupture" or "valve cord rupture" used to describe a similar condition.

You'll see "chorda" (singular form, meaning a cord or string) in terms like "chordae vocales" (vocal cords). The Greek word "chorde" originally meant the string of a musical instrument, which is why it's used for string-like structures in the body.

You might say: "The patient was referred to cardiology after imaging showed a chordae tendineae rupture." Or: "Understanding chordae tendineae rupture requires knowing that these are the tiny cords supporting the heart valves."