Mikrokosmographia a description of the body of man. Together vvith the controuersies thereto belonging. Collected and translated out of all the best authors of anatomy, especially out of Gasper Bauhinus and Andreas Laurentius. By Helkiah Crooke Doctor of Physicke, physitian to His Maiestie, and his Highnesse professor in anatomy and chyrurgerie. Published by the Kings Maiesties especiall direction and warrant according to the first integrity, as it was originally written by the author.

CHAP. XIII. Of the vessels of the Heart and their values.

THere are seene about the Basis of the heart in the outward sides of the ventri∣cles * 1.1 foure vesselles and so many orificies, whose originall some woulde deriue from the heart, as Vesalius and Varolius, and they are in each ventricle two. Hip∣pocrates in his Booke de Corde calleth them the fountayns of humane Nature. In the right the hollow veine [Table 9. figure 2. ^F Table 10. figure 1. C figure 2.^NN] * 1.2 and the arteriall veine. [table 9. fig. 2.^G] In the left the venall artery [table 10. fig. 2^•]

and the great artery. [Table 9. figure 2. ^H Table 10. figure 1. ^H figure 2.^OP] Within these vesselles are certaine values or leafe-gates placed, which Hippocrates called the secret filmes * 1.3 of the heart, and Galen membranes and the Epiphysis of membranes eleuen in number, all a∣rising from the orificies of the vesselles. Some of these are three-forcked, some like halfe * 1.4 Moones: some againe are carried from without inward into the ventricles of the heart, to * 1.5 which they are tyed with strong membranes, especially to the partition toward the cone or poynt, that in the dilatation of the heart the ligaments might draw the values vnto * 1.6 them¦selues, and as it were turne them vp to the body of the heart: others are carried from an in∣ward position outward, as soone as the two vesselles do peepe out of the heart. In those * 1.7 vesselles which receiue matter into the heart they are strong, because they are not onely to hinder the regresse but also are to drawe; but in those that send out matter out of the heart, they are weaker.

In the dilatation of the heart they are all extended, the forked values making certain ga∣ping * 1.8 fissures betweene their forkes, by which the matters are let in; those like the halfe-Moone or the semicircular values doe shut close the endes of their vesselles and so hinder those matters that are gone out for returning in againe.

In the contraction of the heart they are all likewise contracted, & then the forked ones do close vp those yawning fissures which they made in their dilatation and so hinder those * 1.9 matters that are gone out for returning in againe. These circular values flagging to the sides of the vessels doe leaue open way for the bloud and spirits to issue out. Of these values * 1.10 Hippocrates made first mention, and extolleth their structure as a wonderfull secret of Na∣ture, and they are sayeth Galen in the 11. Chapter of his sixt Booke de vsupartium. framed with such exquisite Art that if they bee all at once streatched and stand vpright, then they stop the whole orifice of the vessell.

They haue all one common vse which is to hinder that which is gotten into the heart * 1.11 for passing out againe. They haue also proper vses, the vse of those that are set within and goe outward, is to leade out matters out of the heart and not suffer them to come back: the vse of those that are set without and goe inward, is to keepe the matters gotten in, that they get not out againe, and both these that the labour of the heart should not be in vaine.

But because the constitution of these vessels is one in the heart of an Infant whilest it is in the wombe, and another in the heart after the birth, wee will intreat of them seuerally. And first as they are in a man after he is borne into the world.

The hollow veine hauing perforated [Table 10. figure 1. ^D figure 2. ^NN sheweth the pas∣sage * 1.12 of the veine] the midriffe, and being come vnto the hearte first sending out a short braunch from his lefte side, is receiued by the right deafe-eare with his ample and patent orifice [Table 10. figure 1. from ^C to ^B] thrice as large as the orifice of the great artery, and is presently inserted into the right [Table 10. figure 5. CC sheweth his orifice] ventricle; to which it adhereth so firmely that vnneth it can be separated from it. Whence came the occasion of Aristotles error and his followers, who thinke that there the hollow veine [tab. 10. figure 1. C] as also all the rest haue their originall. And for the strengthening of the heart, this great braunch becomes like a ligament, and his vse is to bring the bloud which is sent vpward from the Liuer vnto the right ventricle and there to powre it into the heart whilest it is dilated, to bee farther attenuated therein, as well for the nourishment of the Lungs which require a thinner bloud, as especially for matter to make the arteriall bloud and spirites afterward to bee perfected in the left ventricle. The greater part of which is afterward sent out in the contraction of the heart by the arteriall veine [Table 10. figure 5. P.]

To this orifice groweth a membranous [Table 10. figure ••. HH] circle, which addeth * 1.13 strength to the heart, it passeth inward and not farre from the beginning is diuided or slitte into three small but strong portall membranes [Table 10. figure 5. ^KLM] or values whose Ba∣sis is large, and they end in an obtuse or dull poynt, and when they are shutte and doe as it were wincke together, they are like broade headed Iaulins or broade arrowe heades trian∣gular, and euery angle forked; all which forks consist and growe together of small threds of fibres [Table 10. figure 5.^NN] (which Aristotle mistooke for nerues) ioyned together with fleshy breaches, [Table 10. figure 5.^OO] which by those fibres as by ligaments are stretched in the contraction of the heart, and those being streatched the orifice is almost cleane shut * 1.14 vp. But when this circle is open together with his fibres it resembleth a Crowne such as Princes in old time wore.

But these Values, as also those of the venall Artery doe encline from without inwarde, that the bloode in the contraction of the heart should not regurgitate into the Hollowe∣veine: how then is it possible that blood should bee laboured in the heart for the nourish∣ment of the whole body when as no blood can passe out of this Ventricle into the hollow veine but onely into the Lungs? Wherfore it was necessary that Nature should prouide a¦way out of the Lungs into the hollow vein, from whence branches might be dispersed tho∣roughout the whole body.

The other Vessell of the right Ventricle is the Arteriall Veine [Tab. 9. figure 2 ^o. Tab. 10, figure 6 ^{C D} Tab. 11, figure 1 C] * 1.15 or the arteriall vessell. A veine it is, because of the office it hath to transport blood, an artery because his frame and substance is like that of an arterie. It is fastned to the ventricle with a lesse orifice [Tab. 10, figure 6, ^{C D}] then the hollow vein, [Tab. 10, figure 5, CCC] and from thence some say it hath his originall, yet it may better be imagined to be a branch and off-spring of the great arterie, because (as saith Archange∣lus) it is most likely that a veine should come from a veine, and an artery from an arterie; * 1.16 therefore the Venall artery, which though it haue the vse of an Artery, yet hauing the sin∣gle coate but of a veine hath his Originall from the Hollow-veine made also of one single coat. And so the arteriall veine hauing the vse of a veine but the double coat of an arterie, most likely proceedeth from the great arterie which hath a double coate. Of which opini∣on also are Varolius and Laurentius, & it is further confirmed by their Connexion which in the Infant vnborne is more conspicuous.

But the verie trueth as I conceiue is, that it ariseth as other spermaticall parts do from * 1.17 the seede. His coate is not simple as that of a veine, but double [Tab. 11, fig. 3. ^{B C}] as an ar∣terie, and that for the vse as well of the Infant in the wombe as of the man afterward; of the Infant, that the Mothers arteriall blood and vitall spirit which it carrieth into the Lunges, * 1.18 dooing therein the office of an arterie, should not breath out as it would if it were as thin as a veine: of the man afterward (and in him it dooth onely the dutie of a veine, not of an arterie) partly because in respirations it was not fit it should bee easily dilated and contra∣cted, as it would haue beene if it had had the single coate of a veine, for then there woulde not haue beene capacitie sufficient in the Chest for the instruments of breathing, and beside the blood should haue had too free and full accesse to the heart; partly, because the Lungs which are of a spongy and light substance required to be nourished with a thinne and vapo∣rous not with a thicke and crasse bloode (for euery thing is nourished with aliment likest vnto it selfe) which could not haue beene either so prepared or so conteined in a vessell with a single coate, as in one with a double.

Wee will add also that cause whereof Hippocrates maketh mention, that is, that the right * 1.19 ventricle which is not so hot as the left, might not be as much cooled as the lefte, and so at length his heate extinguished. For seeing that the branches of the Weazon which drawe in the cold aer are diuided betweene the branches of the arteriall veine and venall arterie, [Tab. 11, figure 1, ^BCD] if the coate of the arteriall veine were but one, it would receyue as much aer as the venall artery whose coate likewise is but one, and so both ventricles should be alike refrigerated; whence it must needes follow, that the lefte hauing more heate then the right, the heat of the right must of necessity be in time extinguished, the heat of the left remaining inviolate; wherefore Nature made this vessell thicker and so narrower, to carry aer not so much for refrigeration as for refection.

This is a verie notabl•• vessell, that so much as it becommeth lesse by the thickenesse of his coates, might be recompenced in the largenesse of the Vessell, and so the Lunges haue sufficient nourishment.

It leaneth vpon the great Arterie, and turning his bulke vnto the left side, is diuided into two [Table 10, figure 6, ^{C D}. Tab. 11, figure 3 ^FF] trunkes which are carried to the lefte * 1.20 and the right Lungs, and there distributed quite through into inumerable [Tab. 11, Fig. 3, ^GG] branches.

The vse of this vessell is in the contraction of the heart, to receyue the greater part of the blood out of the right Ventricle (in which it is made thinner and lighter, that it might * 1.21 passe out more forcibly) and to carry it into the Lunges for their nourishment. For the heart seemeth to make retribution to the Lunges, yeelding them bloode for their nourish∣ment, because they sent aer vnto him for his refection.

But although this Veine was made thicke and hard, that it might not too easilie be ei∣ther contracted or dilated, yet it is not so hard, but that his branches are contracted & di∣lated

[illustration]

Table 11. Figure 1. sheweth the fore-side of the Lungs taken out out of the Chest, from which the Heart vvith his Membranes are cut.

[illustration]

Fig. 2. sheweth the backe and gibbous side of the Lunges, as it ly∣eth vpon the backe.

[illustration]

Figure 3. Sheweth the Arteriall Veine.

[illustration]

Figure 4. Sheweth the Venall Arterie separated from the sub∣stance of the Lungs.

[illustration]

TABVLA XI.

[illustration]

FIG. I

[illustration]

FIG. II

[illustration]

FIG. III

[illustration]

FIG. IV.

• A A, 1, 2. The Gullet called oesophagus vnder the we∣zon or Rough arterie.
• B 1, 2. The rough artery.
• C 1, The arteriall veine.
• D 1. The venall artery.
• E F G H, 1, 2. The foure Lobes of the Lungs.
• K, 1 The Midriffe.
• I, 2. The Canale or pipe of the Lungs.
• A 3. The Orifice of the ar∣teriall veine.
• abc, 3. His three Values.
• B 3. The inner Coate.
• C 3. The vtter coate
• D 3. The diuision of the arteriall veine.
• E F. 3. The two Trunkes whereinto it is diuided.
• GGGG 3. The distributi∣on of the same through the substaunce of the Lungs.
• A, BB, CC 4. The orifice of the venall Arterie, marked with A. where it groweth to the heart, then diuided into foure trunkes.
• E E E E 4 Their distribu∣tion through the Lunges
• F 4. The simple or single coate of this artery.

by the chest; and so in the next dilatation of the heart the blood must needes returne into the heart by the same way it came out; but against this inconuenience prouision is made by three Values [Tab. 10, figure 6, ^KFG] which are set to the Orifice of this trunk where it swelleth a little.

These Values haue their Originall from the very coate of the Veine, and beeing placed inward do looke outwarde, and each of them is like a semi-circle or halfe-moone, or the * 1.22 Latine Letter ••. If all these three be together stretched and set vpright, they seeme to bee but one great Value stopping vp the whole Orifice, & whilst they are stretched carry their Figure of the halfe-Moone; but when they sinke or flagge then they become rugous and resemble the Moone in the first quarter.

Their outward Couering or Circūference, as also is that of the great Artery, is more solid * 1.23 then the rest of their body; for where in both Orificies they touch themselues or ioyn some way together, they become so indurated, that they appeare to bee like a long and rounde tilage.

The Venall artery [Tab. 10, fig. 2 ^{G H} not rightly expressed Table 11, fig. 1, ^D] is a ves∣sell of the left Ventricle. An artery because of his vse, for it containeth and bringeth aer, * 1.24 as also because it beateth as other Pulses doe; not so indeede that it can bee discerned

by the eye; but so it must of necessity bee, because it is continuated with the left ven∣tricle * 1.25 where is the originall of pulsation. A veine it is as being of the substance that veines are of.

It proceedeth out of the left ventricle of the heart at his Basis with a spacious & round & open orifice [table 10. figure 7. ^CC] greater then that of the great artery. It is supposed to haue his beginning out of the softer part of the ventricle; but it may better be beleeued to haue sprong out of the hollow veine if wee marke the connexion that is found in Infants vnborne.

It hath but one thinne and simple coate in growne bodies, that the Lungs might bee * 1.26 nourished with defaecated thinne and vaporous bloud brought by it but sent by the heart, and that in a greater quantity then a thick stiffe vessell would carry: because the Lungs are parts of great expence as well because of their continuall motion, as also for the rarenesse and loosenesse of their substance which suffereth the thinner part of the bloud to exhale * 1.27 from them: againe it was needfull that this vessell should be capacious, becaue the heat of the left ventricle required great store of ayre for the tempering of it, beside that it needed for the reparation of spirits: for in growne men it hath the vse of an artery to carry ayre, & not of a veine as it had whilest the Infant was in the mothers wombe: and againe, the lar∣ger it is and more spacious the better may the smoake and soote passe through it into the braunches of the weazon without infecting the ayre it brinketh into the heart, which in a narrower passage would necessarily haue beene mingled: and in the Infant it had no vse of a double coate because it onely carried the Aliment of the Lungs vnto them from the hol∣low veine.

It is a notable vessell, and as soone as it is gotten out of the heart is diuided into two trunks [table 11. figure 4. ^BBCD] so that it seemeth to be a double orifice of the same vessell. The right of these is sent vnder the Basis of the heart into the right Lung, [table 11. figure 1. ^D] The left into the left like the arteriall vein, and so they are both disseminated through * 1.28 the Lungs, and make the representation of rootes [tab. 11. figure 4. ^••••] and may be com∣pared to the rootes of the gate-veine: for as it doth sucke the nourishment with his ends or extremities, so the venall artery is deriued into the Lungs to draw ayre out of the bran∣ches of the weazon. But at the originall of this vessell and the great artery, they both meete and are ioyned together, by the interposition of a good thicke and large particle which in the Infant was perforated and made a passage as we shall declare hereafter. The vse of this venal artery is in the dilatation of the heart to draw ayre out of the Lungs for the generation of spirits, and in his contraction to expell or drawe out into the Lungs a porti∣on * 1.29 of the vitall bloud for their nourishment and life, as also the soote and smoake that ari∣seth from the flame of the heart: but least all the ayre should returne again out of the hart * 1.30 into the Lungs, there groweth to the orifice of this vessell a membranous circle [table 10. figure 7. ^DD] out of the substance of the heart, which is ledde inward and deuided into two values [table 10. figure 7. ^FF table 12. fig. 2. ^r] bending from without inward; which as they exceede in largenes the values of the hollow veine, so also they are stronger, hauing longer thredy strings [Table 10. figure 7. ^GG] to which more fleshy [Table 10. figure 7. ^HH table 12. figure 2 ss] explantations or risings do accrew; one of these values looketh to the right side another to the left, which when they are ioyned do resemble a Bishops myter.

They are but two because this vessell was not to be ouer closely shut and that for two * 1.31 causes: first, seeing that all parts need vitall spirits and bloud to be sent vnto them for their life the Lungs also must neede them; wherefore as they receiued Alimentary and nouri∣shing bloud by the arteriall veine, so were they to receiue vitall by the venall artery; there∣fore in the venall artery there is alwayes contayned subtile and arterial bloud, which that it may be, it hath onely two values set to it, that in the contraction of the heart the way might not be altogether stopped vp, but so much space lefte as was necessary for the transvection of vitall bloud.

But if the values were wanting then would the arteriall bloud in contraction flow forth in greater quantity and with more violence, and so the great artery and consequently the * 1.32 whole body should be defrauded. Againe, that if there should bee any smouldry excre∣ments ingendred betweene the ayre attracted and the natiue heate which is conteyned in this ventricle, they might haue free egresse this way into the Lungs and so goe out by the weazon; which otherwise if they were retayned might endanger the suffocation and ex∣tinction of the creatures naturall heate.

The second vessell of the left ventricle is the great artery, of which though wee doe en∣treat at large in his proper place, yet it will be necessary to discourse of it here so far as shall make for out present purpose.

Notes

• * 1.1

  4. vess••ls.
• * 1.2

  Their postiō.
• * 1.3

  The values.
• * 1.4

  11. in number
• * 1.5

  Their sorme.
• * 1.6

  Foras intus. Intus ••••ras.
• * 1.7

  Where stron∣ger and why.
• * 1.8

  The work 〈…〉〈…〉 the values in dilatation.
• * 1.9

  In contractiō.
• * 1.10

  Hip. first men∣tioned them.
• * 1.11

  Their vse¦common. Proper.
• * 1.12

  Of the hollow veine in the heart.
• * 1.13

  The circular membrane.
• * 1.14

  Breaches.
• * 1.15

  The Arteriall Veine. A veine by of∣fice. An artery by substance▪ his Originall.
• * 1.16

  Archangelus his argument.
• * 1.17

  The true ori∣ginal of the arterial veine
• * 1.18

  The vse of the single coat of this Arterie.
• * 1.19

  Hip. his good vse of this sin∣gle coate.
• * 1.20

  his amplitude His diuision.
• * 1.21

  His Vse
• * 1.22

  Whence the Values are. Their figure.
• * 1.23

  The Vtter coate of this Vessel.
• * 1.24

  The venal ar∣teries.
• * 1.25

  It hath pulsa∣tion though not visible.
• * 1.26

  His coate but single.
• * 1.27

  Why this ves∣sel is to be ca∣pacious, ma∣ny reasons.
• * 1.28

  The right branch. The Lest.
• * 1.29

  The vse of the venal ar∣tery.
• * 1.30

  His values.
• * 1.31

  Why but two
• * 1.32

  The necessity of them.