(a) A representative human mitral valve and identifications of five chordal types: Anterior Basal (AB), Anterior Marginal (AM), Anterior Strut (AS), Posterior Basal (PB) and Posterior Marginal (PM). (b) Diameter measurements along the chord using a digital camera. (c) A captured video image of a chord with markers used for strain measurement. (d) Representative stress–strain curves for human and ovine chordae and the calculated mechanical parameters: εT – Strain at transition point, or, TM – Tangent Modulus, F – Failure stress–strain, SMlow and SMhigh – Secant Modulus at 1 MPa and at 10 MPa, respectively.