CHAPTER III 



OF THE MOTIONS OF ARTERIES, AS SEEN IN THE 

 DISSECTION OF LIVING ANIMALS 



IN connection with the motions of the heart these 

 things are further to be observed having reference to 

 the motions and pulses of the arteries : 



1. At the moment the heart contracts, and when the 

 breast is struck, when in short the organ is in its state 

 of systole, the arteries are dilated, yield a pulse, and 

 are in the state of diastole. In like manner, when the 

 right ventricle contracts and propels its charge of blood, 

 the arterial vein [the pulmonary artery] is distended at 

 the same time with the other arteries of the body. 



2. When the left ventricle ceases to act, to contract, 

 to pulsate, the pulse in the arteries also ceases ; further, 

 when this ventricle contracts languidly, the pulse in the 

 arteries is scarcely perceptible. In like manner, the 

 pulse in the right ventricle failing, the pulse in the vena 

 arteriosa [pulmonary artery] ceases also. 



3. Further, when an artery is divided or punctured, 

 the blood is seen to be forcibly propelled from the 

 wound at the moment the left ventricle contracts ; and, 

 again, when the pulmonary artery is wounded, the blood 

 will be seen spouting forth with violence at the instant 

 when the right ventricle contracts. 



So also in fishes, if the vessel which leads from the 

 heart to the gills be divided, at the moment when 

 the heart becomes tense and contracted, at the same 

 moment does the blood flow with force from the 

 divided vessel. 



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