455 
of Edinburgh , Session 1868-69. 
The following Communications were read : — 
1. Notice of a Heart in which the Superior Vena Cava 
possessed a Yalve at its Auricular Orifice. By Professor 
Turner. 
Whilst examining the heart in the body of one of the male sub- 
jects undergoing dissection in my practical rooms, in the early 
part of this session, the large size and fenestrated condition of the 
Eustachian valve attracted my attention. When the heart was 
removed from the body, and the auricle submitted to a more care- 
ful scrutiny, I observed that a valve was situated at the mouth of 
the superior vena cava. 
As I have not, up to this present time, seen any record in the 
various anatomical works which I have consulted of the existence 
of a valve in this locality, I am induced to bring the specimen 
before the notice of the Society. 
A membranous valve, formed by a reduplication of the endocardial 
lining membrane, lay across the anterior and inner border of the 
auricular orifice of the superior vena cava, and hung pendulous in 
the auricular cavity. It measured inch in its long or transverse 
diameter, but was scarcely J an inch deep; so that when drawn across 
the mouth of the vein, it did not cover over much more than one 
third of the orifice. Its free border was almost straight. The 
attached border was semilunar in form, and connected to the wall 
of the auricle, close to its line of junction with the anterior wall 
of the vein, not by a continuous membrane, but by numerous 
slender fibrous bands. Between these bands were apertures of 
various sizes, one of which, larger than the rest, was situated at 
the upper and inner part of the valve, which consequently had a 
fenestrated appearance. From the outer (right) end of the valve, and 
continuous with its free border, a fibrous cord (*) arched downwards 
beneath the lining membrane of the right wall of the auricle, 
and became continuous with the right border of the Eustachian 
valve.* The inner (left) end of the valve was connected to a short 
papillary muscle, which was continuous with the muscular wall of 
* Since the specimen was shown to the Society I have recognised in two 
hearts, which have come under my notice in my dissecting room, a similar 
fibrous cord, extending from the Eustachian valve along the right posterior 
