Volume 1

The surgical anatomy of the arteries of the human body / By Robert Harrison.

  • Harrison, Robert, 1796-1858.
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The surgical anatomy of the arteries of the human body / By Robert Harrison. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    22/242 (page 4)
    THE AORTA. To examine the origin and course of this large artery, whose branches extend through all parts of the body, the thorax may be opened in the following manner: the left half of the sternum (which bone has already been divided for the purpose of injecting the subject), must be separated together with part of the second, third, and fourth ribs; these bones should be sawed through, anterior to their centre, and then everted to- gether with the sternum; the cartilage of the first rib being cut through, but that bone itself left in its situa- tion; some cellular membrane behind the sternum must now be removed, and the pericardium being fully opened, the commencement of the aorta is brought into view. The aorta arises from the upper part of the left ventricle of the heart, directly in front of the left auriculo-ventricular opening, and behind the pulmo- nary artery ; the fleshy fibres of the ventricle are not continuous with the fibres of the aorta; both this ves- sel and the pulmonary artery are connected with the heart in the following manner:—first, the serous layer of the pericardium being continued from the surface of the heart upon the arteries at their origin, serves to connect them;—secondly, the lining membrane of the heart is continued into each vessel, forming at their commencement the semilunar valves;—thirdly, the middle or fibrous coat of each artery, is intimate- ly connected to the fleshy fibres of the heart, by three