MOTION OF THE HEART AND BLOOD 



Finally, in arteriotomy, the blood is seen squirted 

 alternately far and near, the greater spurt coming 

 with the distention of the artery, at the time the 

 heart strikes the ribs. This is the moment the 

 heart contracts and is in systole, and it is by this 

 motion that the blood is ejected. 



Contrary to the usual teaching, it is clear from 

 the facts, that the diastole of the arteries corresponds 

 to the systole of the heart, and that the arteries 

 are filled and distended by the blood forced into 

 them by the contraction of the ventricles. The 

 arteries are distended because they are filled like 

 sacs, not because they expand like bellows. All 

 the arteries of the body pulsate because of the same 

 cause, the contraction of the left ventricle. Likewise 

 the pulmonary artery pulsates because of the con- 

 traction of the right ventricle. 



To illustrate how the beat in the arteries is due to 

 the impulse of blood from the left ventricle, one may 

 blow into a glove, distending all the fingers at one 

 and the same time, like the pulse. The pulse cor- 

 responds to the tension of the heart in frequency, 

 rhythm, volume, and regularity. Because of the 

 motion of the blood it is reasonable to expect the 

 heart beat and the dilatation of the arteries, even the 

 more distant ones, to go together.^ It is like inflating 



^ Rather interesting that Harvey should have avoided the idea of a 

 transmission of the pulse-wave, especially since in Chapter 5 he dis- 

 cusses the transmission of the wave of contraction over the heart itself. 

 Did he attempt to time with the inadequate instruments of his day the 

 apex beat and say the pulse at the wrist? It is rather a broad conclusion 



[35] 



