Properties of the Cardiac Fulcrum

pp. 41-47

Abstract

Background: Taking into consideration the sequential movements of the myocardium, the cardiac fulcrum is subject to a functional requirement that indicates its role as support and stabilizer of the myocardium, as well as being modeled in its morphology by the tensions that occur in its structure. Could the myocardium function without the cardiac fulcrum?

Methods: Thirty five bovine, porcine and human hearts from the slaughterhouses and the morgue were used in this research. 

Results: As the fulcrum is subject to the forces of the myocardial segments attached to its structure, it obviously registers tensions that model its morphology. This concept is explained given that myocardial movements are sequential and overlap in the myocardial segments, developing asymmetric tensions that act with their epicenter in the fulcrum. The myocardium inevitably needs this support in order not to destabilize its structure due to the unequal movements generated by its forces.

Conclusions: The fulcrum constitutes the support enabling the myocardium to exert the necessary power, but due to the sequential cardiac movements, it acts as a stabilizer of the entire heart, absorbing the alternating ascending, descending and torsional tractions. This interplay poses not only a limit to the movements of the heart, but also  models the shape of the fulcrum through the torque to which it is subjected. Its properties of stability, resistance,; elasticity and plasticity allow the myocardium to fulfill its function.

How to cite this article:

Trainini JC, Beraudo M, Wernicke M, Herrero E, Trainini A, Fariña O. Properties of the Cardiac Fulcrum. Rev Argent Cardiol 2025;93:41-7. https://doi.org/10.7775/rac.v93.i1.20862