chorda

Chorda is a Latin-derived term meaning "string" or "cord" and is used in biology to name several cord-like structures. In vertebrate anatomy the word forms parts of names rather than referring to a single structure, and it is most commonly encountered in embryology and descriptive anatomy.

Notochord: The chorda dorsalis, known in English as the notochord, is a flexible, rod-like structure present in the embryos of all chordates. It provides skeletal support and helps define the organism’s primary axis during development. In most vertebrates the notochord is replaced by the vertebral column as development progresses, though remnants can persist in some forms. In humans, notochordal tissue contributes to the nucleus pulposus of intervertebral discs.

Chorda tympani: The chorda tympani is a branch of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) that carries taste fibers from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and preganglionic parasympathetic fibers to the submandibular and sublingual glands via the lingual nerve after passing through the middle ear and the petrotympanic fissure.

Chordae tendineae: Often referred to as heart strings, chordae tendineae are tendon-like cords that anchor the valve leaflets of the mitral and tricuspid valves to the papillary muscles. They play a crucial role in preventing valve inversion during ventricular contraction.

Overview: The term chorda reflects its Latin meaning and is used to describe several distinct, cord-like structures across anatomy. It is not a single structure but a naming element shared by multiple, unrelated features in different organ systems.