Reproduction
Object numberRCSHC/P 149
Scientific nameHomo sapiens
CollectionHunterian
CategoryWet preparations
Object nameLeft ventricle, Myocardial Infarction, Endocarditis, Coagulation of the Blood during Life, Mounted wet tissue
DescriptionPart of the left ventricle of a heart with its apex cavity filled by two bodies.
A section has been made through the larger of the two bodies showing it to have an exterior of firm fibrous laminae, and an interior of soft fibrine. The ventricle wall to which it is attached is thinner and softer than natural. This may be the result of a myocardial infarction (heart attack).
Production date 1770
Preparator
Owner/user
presented
Physical Location
LocationOn display in the Hunterian Museum, Room 4: The Long Gallery
Physical Information
Physical descriptionWet preparation of tissue mounted in a glass jar with glass lid.
Materialglass (material)
Dimensions
whole height: 166 mm
whole diameter: 101 mm
whole weight: 1466 g
whole diameter: 101 mm
whole weight: 1466 g
Bibliography
SourceProger 1966-1972
Vol. 1, pages 86-8
NotesText taken from Stanley & Paget (1846-9).
TranscriptA part of the left ventricle of a heart. The whole apex of its cavity is filled by two bodies (Vegetations globuleuses, Laennec), of which the larger is nearly two inches in length, and an inch in diameter, and the smaller about half that size. A section has been made through the wall of the heart into the larger body, and shows its exterior composed of firm fibrinous laminae, which form an irregular sac containing masses of soft fibrine. The portion of the wall of the ventricle to which this body is attached is rather thinner than natural, and appears soft and dilated.
SourceHunter Casebooks
Dissections of Morbid Bodies, No. 122, pages 358-9.
NotesThe following is, in all probability, the account of the examination of the case:
TranscriptMr. _____, aged 61, died of apoplexy. On examining the brain I found every thing externally to all appearance sound. On cutting off the upper part of the right hemisphere, I observed in the cortical substance of the right side, (just above the middle lobe) where it was surrounding the medullary, and passing in between the convolutions of the medullary substance that it was redder in its substance than common, full of red dots like cut ends of vessels, many of which were as large as a large pin's head, which were plainly extravasations. The substance, where-ever these were, was tender and pulpy, breaking down upon turning off of the Pia-mater, which was not the case with the other parts of the brain, that had not this appearance. None of this redness or dottedness was continued into the medullary substance. A very small degree of this appearance was observable on the left side, near about the same place. The ventricles contained about three spoonfuls of water; none in the third or fourth ventricle.
On opening the thorax, I found some adhesions of the lungs of the left side, and on cutting into the Pericardium, I observed that it adhered to the heart on the left side by a glutinous adhesion, which was easily separated. The heart seemed every where sound excepting one part of the left ventricle: viz. on its fore part close to the septum, where there was a gentle rising, and a kind of discolouration. On feeling this, there was a plain fluctuation. When I cut into the right ventricle I found the coronary artery as it passes between the auricle and ventricle, ossified. A large Polypus in the right auricle, which extended into the veins, both above and below. This polypus was buff on the upper part through its whole extent, and dark below, which shews the time of forming. The same kind in the Ventricle and pulmonary artery. I cut into the left ventricle, where it was sound, to expose its inside; and observed a solid coagulum of blood of an oval figure, opposite to the swelling on the external surface; this coagulum was of old standing from its appearance, and was firmly entangled in the fasciculi of the ventricle. I could also feel a plain fluctuation in it, and which communicated with the external fluctuation. I cut into the swelling externally, and got into a Cavity which was in the substance of the heart, and which also communicated with the cavity in the coagulum. These cavities contained a bloody matter.
The Heart at this part must have lost its proper action, which gave an opportunity to the coagulable lymph to coagulate here: An abscess formed in the substance of the ventricle; this abscess came in contact with the Polypus, and dissolved part of it, which mixing with the matter of the abscess, gave it its colour, but it was prevented from bursting into the cavity of the ventricle by the Coagulum.
(The stomach was very much contracted, by its being very empty, from some vomitings he had before death.)
SourceProger 1966-1972
Vol. 1, pages 87-8.
NotesNote on Cardiac Aneurysm.
TranscriptWilliam Clift when describing this specimen notes the resemblance to the végétations globuleuses of Laennec and included it under the heading of Clots formed in the Heart during Life. Neither he nor Laennec was aware of the localised dilation of the wall of the ventricle which is now recognised as cardiac aneurysm ad which is commonly the site of intracardiac thrombi.
John Hunter had, however, already described the condition clearly in 1757 when examining the body of General Herbert: It will be noted that Hunter described the localised thinning and dilation of the wall of the ventricle as a kind of aneurysm. This description corresponds closely with the appearances in the specimen P149, but there is no surviving evidence that this is in fact the heart of General Herbert, and that Clift overlooked the connection when he arranged the specimens.
Further examples of cardiac aneurysm are shown in specimens P150 and P1149.
SourceHunter Casebooks
Dissections of Morbid Bodies, No. 32, page 300.
NotesApril 1757. The Opening of General Herbert's Body
TranscriptHe died suddenly about seven in the evening, sitting in his Chair. He was of a full habit of body: had been ill two years before his Death, but was cured by bleeding at the nose. He had likewise been Dropsical but was cured of that also. He used to complain of a heaviness at his Heart. His pulse was not so very irregular. On opening his head, we found the vessels, both arteries and veins very turgid with blood. Very near a quart came out of them during the examination. The lateral ventricles were very large and full of water. On opening the abdomen and thorax, we found the gall-bladder very large and full of bile, owing to a very large stone in the neck of it, or beginning of the duct. He never had any symptoms of that kind. On opening the pericardium we found the apex of the heart adhering to it: on cutting into the left ventricle, I found it white and callous;- lost all power of contraction. At the apex it was forming itself in to a kind of aneurism, becoming there very thin. That part was lined with a thrombus, just the shape of the pouch in which it lay.
SourceClift 1830 Part 1
NotesCatalogue number 363
TranscriptThe left ventricle of the heart, dilated into an aneurism at its upper part. The aneurismal sac is laid open on the outside, and its communication with the ventricle is very distinctly shown.
