concept

Corrosion cast of an otter's lung

Heart in ribcage, Hodgkin lymphoma patient, 3D printed nylon

Hydatid cyst in a horse liver

Corrosion cast of a pig's lung

Silk moth antenna

Corrosion cast of a seal's lung

Corrosion cast of a goat's lung

Fish liver, TEM

Murine pancreas, SPIM

Corrosion cast of a red deer's lung

Cross section through the left ventricle of a mouse heart. The heart consists of four chambers through which blood flows. Cardiac (heart) muscle is organised in spiralling fibres which transition smoothly between a left handed spiral on the outside wall of the left ventricle to a right handed spiral on the inside. This helical structure helps the wall of the heart chamber contract in order to pump oxygenated blood out of the heart and around the body. Also visible are the two large, left ventricular papillary muscles (thick downward stretching fibres). These hold the contracted chamber in place and help maintain tension to prevent blood moving backwards through the heart in the wrong direction.



This image was created using Optical Projection Tomography (OPT) which uses ultraviolet (UV) light to excite the natural autofluorescence in the tissue. In order to detect this autofluorescence, the sample is first made transparent using chemical processes. To build the final image, the sample is rotated about its axis and a series of images are taken which are then used to create a 3D model of the object. This reveals the microstructure of the heart tissue and gives insights into the mechanical function of a healthy heart. Diameter of the heart chamber is approximately 800 micrometres.

Left ventricle, mouse heart, OPT

Photograph of a corrosion cast of a dog's lung. The clear resin represents the airways within the lungs. This is created by pumping resin through the airways until it hardens. The lung tissue is then removed so that the cast remains.

Corrosion cast of a dog's lung

Photograph of part of the liver from a horse. The liver has been carefully dissected to show a hydatid cyst, an immature stage in the life cycle of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. The adult tapeworm, just a few millimetres long, is found in the small intestine of dogs and foxes. A wide variety of both domestic and wild animals, including humans, can act as the intermediate host for this parasite and harbour the cyst stage shown here.

Photograph of a dissected fetal piglet to reveal the contents of the thoracic and abdominal cavity. The lungs, liver, stomach, spleen, kidney and intestines are visible. A small part of heart is visible through a gap in the lungs.

Fetal piglet

Photograph of a cow uterus with circular, button-like caruncles. The caruncles are the site of attachment for the placenta. There are around 100 caruncles in a bovine uterus.

Uterus with caruncles, bovine

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Organs

Images

Catalogue

Left ventricle, mouse heart, OPT

Corrosion cast of a dog's lung

Hydatid cyst in a horse liver

Fetal piglet

Uterus with caruncles, bovine

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Organs

Images

Catalogue

Left ventricle, mouse heart, OPT

Corrosion cast of a dog's lung

Hydatid cyst in a horse liver

Fetal piglet

Uterus with caruncles, bovine

Wellcome Collection

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