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. XV. Of the vnion of the vesselles of the heart in the Infant vnborne which is abolished after they come into the world.

THE structure and connexion of the vessels of the heart in an Infant vnborne or any other creature yet in the Dammes belly differeth much from that it appeareth to be afterward when the burthen is brought into the world. This * 1.1 Galen most perfectly and manifestly explayned in the 10. Chapter of his sixt Booke de vsu partium. And albeit most Anatomists after him haue lightly passed it ouer, yet will we stand somewhat more vppon it.

We sayed before that there were foure vessels of the heart, two in the right ventricle, to wit, the hollow veine [Table 12. figure 1, 2, 3. ^ab] and the arteriall veine [Table 12. fig. * 1.2 1.^m] and two in the left, the great Arterie [Table 12. fig. 12, and 3. ^df] and the venal artery: [Table 12. figure 12, and 3. which in the second figure is manifest] which vessels in the In∣fant are so vnited and coupled two & two together. The hollow veine a vessell of the right ventricle, with the venall artery a vessell of the left ventricle: and the great Artery a vessell of the left ventricle with the arteriall veine a vessell of the right ventricle: which ves∣sels in men after they are borne are disioyned asunder.

But these vnitings are not alwayes after one manner: for the former, partly because of the neighbour-hood of the vessels, partly because of the likenesse of substances they being * 1.3 both veines, is accomplished by the coniunction of their mouthes called Anastomosis, wee call it inoculation from the similitude it hath with that poynt of husbandry where a sci∣ence or but a leafe is so fitted to another kinde as that the sap may runne equally through them both.

The latter vnion because of the distance of the vessels to be vnited is accomplished by a Canale or Pipe. The first vnion which is by Anastomosis or inoculation or apertion and * 1.4 opening of two vessels one into another, is of the hollow veine with the venall artery [tab. 12. fig. 1, & 2. ^ag] which is to be obserued vnder the right eare of the hart before the hollow veine open it selfe into the right ventricle [Table 12. figure 2. appeareth at ^h] and near that region where the coronall veine ariseth.

For touching one another so that you may easily thinke them to be but one vessell, Na∣ture * 1.5 bored them with one hole common to them both [Table 12. ^agh] which is large and patent and of an ouall figure by which the bloud passeth out of the hollow veine into the venall artery and so is carried to the Lungs. But least the bloud should flowe backe into

the hollow vein there is set to the regiō of this bore or hole which looketh toward the venal artery, a membrane like a couering or lid [Table 12. figure 2. and 3, 1.] thin, hard and trans∣parent, * 1.6 larger then the hole or passage which is fastned onely at the roote; but the rest of the body of it hangeth loose in the cauity of the vessell, that falling loosely and flagging in∣to it selfe it might the more easily bee turned vp to the vessell of the Lungs. i. the venall ar∣tery and giue way to the bloud flowing forcibly out of the hollow veine; but hindering it * 1.7 from returning thither againe. Wherefore the venall artery in the Infant doeth the office of a veine to the Lungs, but after the birth the office of an artery; for in these whilest the heart is dilated the bloud is powred out of the hollow veine into the right ventricle, and from thence when the heart is contracted thrust out by the arteriall veine into the Lungs. * 1.8 But in the Infant the heart being not moued and yet the Lungs requiring nourishment & encrease, Nature deuised the former way by which the bloud brought vppe by the hollow veine is not powred into the ventricle of the heart, seeing neither the Lungs stood in need of attenuated bloud, neither was there any generation of vitall spirites, but runneth straight into the venall artery and thence into the Lungs.

These are admirable workes of Nature, but the conglutination or ioyning together of the foresayd hole presently after, passeth all admiration; for as soone as euer the creature is * 1.9 borne into the world, breatheth and the heart is mooued, it hath no further neede of this hole or passage, wherefore by degrees the membrane is dryed vp and the bore closeth and groweth together, so that if you looke for it a few weekes after either in the heart of an In∣fant or of a Calfe, you would deny that euer it was perforated, but in dryer creatures it soo∣ner groweth vp, in moyster creatures later.

The other vnion is of the great artery with the arterial veine [Tab. 12. figure 1, 2 and 3^fg] by a canale or pipe [Table 12. figure 1^l] for seeing the venall artery performed the of∣fice * 1.10 of a veine to the Lungs, it was necessary that the arteriall veine should chaunge his vse into that of an artery: wherefore Nature also made a perforation into the great artery. But because these two vesselles were a little distant one from the other [Table 12. figure 1.^d•] she made another third vessell but very small by which they might bee ioyned, so that they are ioyned not by inoculation but by a pipe or canale.

This canall or pipe beginneth [Table 12. figure 1. ^l] not from the trunke or stocke of the great artery, but from that region of the trunke carried downward [Table 12. figure 1, 2, & 3. ^f] where the left nerue of the sixt payre or coniugation making the Recurrent is circum∣volued * 1.11 or rowled about, & the pipe passeth not ouerthwart but obliquely or sidelong from the great artery [Table 12. figure 1. from^d to^m] to the arteriall veine, where it is deuided into two trunkes and appeareth as if the arteriall veine were deuided into three trunkes, of which the first passed vnto the left Lung, the second vnto the right, and the third (which is a little lesse then the other two) should obliquely reach vnto the great artery, and is from the Basis of the heart in an Infant distant about the breadth of two fingers, in a grown child after birth the breadth of foure: and the longitude of it is so notable that you may put vp your finger betweene the two vesselles, but in Oxen you may easily put vp two fingers or more.

This canale or pipe or vessell call it which you please, hath no membrane ioyned to it * 1.12 which might hinder the regresse of the bloud out of the great artery into the arterial veine, because the length and obliquity of the pipe it selfe is sufficient for that purpose. This ca∣nale or pipe is not encreased as other parts of the creature are, but as Nature drieth vp the vmbilicall or nauel-veine & arteries which are at the spine when shee hath no further vse of them and maketh of them small tyes; after the same manner the forenamed coniuncti∣ons of the vessels which reach vnto the heart when the creatures is brought forth are abo∣lished, & this pipe is by degrees attenuated so that in a short time it is quite dryed vp. But in children of three or foure yeares of age it may be found, because of the thicknesse of his roote, but not perforated or hollow.

These vnions or coniunctions are made for the behoofe of the lungs that they might be * 1.13 formed, growe and encrease; and therefore the pure bloud of the mother is carried out of the hollow veine directly by the venall artery into the Lungs by inoculation for their gene∣ration: for they are formed at the same time with the heart, & being generated and formed they are nourished by the same matter, and encreased as long as the burthen is carried in the wombe: but the vitall spirit is ministred to the great artery together with the mothers arteriall bloud from the vmbilicall arteries, and from thence are carried into the Lungs to

[illustration]

Table 12. in 3. Figures, sheweth the vnion of the vessels of the heart, as it is found in the Infant, but abolished soon after it is brought into the world.

[illustration]

TABVLA. XII

[illustration]

FIG. I.

[illustration]

FIG. II.

[illustration]

FIG. III.

• a 1, 2, 3. The ascending Trunke of the hollow-veine.
• b 1, 2, 3. The descending trunke of the hollow-veine.
• c 1, 3. The eare of the right Ventricle.
• d 1, 2, 3. The ascending Trunke of the great artery.
• e 1, 2, 3. The left axillarie artery.
• f 1, 2, 3. The descending Trunke of the great artery.
• g 1, 2, 3. The Venal artery which in the second figure is open.
• h 2. The Anastomosis or inoculation, as it appeareth in the venall artery.
• i 2, 3. A small Membrane like a Value, closing vp the hole of the inoculation.
• k 3. The inoculation as it appeareth in the Hollow-veine.
• l 1. A Canall reaching into the arterial veine, from the descending Trunke of the great artery.
• m 1. The arteriall veine lifted vpward, from the right ventricle to the Lungs
• n 1. Veines and arteries dispersed tho∣rough the coate of the heart.
• o 2. the left ventricle of the hart opened
• p 1. The fore-part of the heart vvhich regardeth the Lungs.
• q 3. The backe-part of the heart, regar∣ding the Spondels or rack-bones.
• r 2. the values of the venall Arterie, with his Filaments.
• s 2. The fleshye implantations of the same.

preserue their life through the Canale or pipe by the arteriall veine. Wherefore the vse of the coniunction is, that whilst the Naturall and vitall blood is transported vnto the Lungs, it might not fall into the ventricles of the heart; for because the heart is not moued it would remaine there, and so should the Lungs be defrauded; but when the creature is come into the world, it vseth no more of the mothers blood but his owne, where it cannot holde the same course; but it must fall into the heart, and there as afore is shewed must bee changed. But it shall not be amisse to relate the order of Anatomicall administration for the finding of these vnions.

The first vnion which is by inoculation, doth elegantly appeare, if the Trunk of the Hol∣low-veine carried through the Chest from the Midriffe vnto the right eare of the heart bee * 1.14 diuided in the middest, for then will appeare two holes ••r passages; the greater which is that of the inoculation into the venall artery, and the lesser which is the hole or passage of the the coronary veine of the heart. But the second vnion which is by the Canale or pipe is demonstrated, if the descending trunke of the great Arterie be diuided thorough the mid∣dest euen vnto his outgate out of the lest ventricle of the heart, for then withinwarde will appeare the small and narrow passage of the pipe into the arteriall veine.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Galen the true obseruer of these vnions.
• * 1.2

  How the vni∣ons are made
• * 1.3

  The former.
• * 1.4

  The satter.
• * 1.5

  Their com∣mon bore or hole.
• * 1.6

  The mem∣brane.
• * 1.7

  The vse of the venal ar∣tery in the in∣fant.
• * 1.8

  In the child alter-birth.
• * 1.9

  The admira∣ble worke of God.
• * 1.10

  The 2. vnion by a pipe.
• * 1.11

  Where the pipe begin∣neth.
• * 1.12

  Why it hath no membrane or couer as the former perforation hath.
• * 1.13

  The vse of these con∣iunctions.
• * 1.14

  How to finde out these vni∣ons in dissec∣tion.