Endocardial tubes

Definition

Endocardial tubes are embryonic structures that form the early foundation of the heart. They initially develop as separate parallel tubes which later fuse together to create a primitive heart tube.

Related terms

Cardiac looping: The process by which the primitive heart tube undergoes bending and twisting to form the mature structure of the heart.

Myocardium: The muscular tissue of the heart that develops around the endocardial tubes, providing it with the ability to contract and pump blood.

Septation: The division of the heart chambers by septa (walls), transforming the simple tube into a four-chambered heart, which is essential for separating oxygenated from deoxygenated blood