What do mid segments of the left ventricle include?

The mid segments of the left ventricle primarily encompass the papillary muscles. These muscles play a crucial role in the heart's function, specifically in the mechanics of the mitral valve. They are attached to the ventricular walls and to the mitral valve leaflets via chordae tendineae. During ventricular contraction (systole), the papillary muscles contract to tension the chordae tendineae, preventing the mitral valve from prolapsing into the left atrium, thus ensuring proper unidirectional blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta.

In contrast, the apical muscles belong to the apex of the left ventricle, the interventricular septum is the wall dividing the left and right ventricles, and the aortic valve is located at the outflow tract of the left ventricle. Therefore, understanding the role and location of the papillary muscles is essential in describing the mid segments of the left ventricle, highlighting their importance in normal cardiac mechanics and function.