Anatomical Observations on the Lungs

All these things, together with the attached lobules, will resemble a polypody original: "polypodij". A genus of ferns; Malpighi is comparing the branching structure of the lung vessels to the fronds of a fern.. Because this gross observation is easily achieved with little expense or labor, it will be possible to obtain an even more exquisite delineation. This will happen for you if you inflate the pulmonary artery original: "arteriam pulmonariam". The vessel carrying blood from the heart to the lungs. through the visible trunk at the start of the same lobe, then tie it with a knot; for you will see the artery rising up as if sculpted in relief, with even the smallest vessels emerging like the branches of a tree. Or, if you desire a more beautiful delineation, by injecting mercury original: "mercurio". Quicksilver was used by early anatomists to fill and visualize the "micro-piping" of the body because of its weight and reflective silver color., silver ramifications will emerge down to the smallest parts.

Whether these vessels have a mutual anastomosis original: "anastomofim". A Greek-derived term for a connection or opening between two vessels, such as where an artery meets a vein. at their ends or elsewhere—so that the blood is reabsorbed by the vein in a continuous path—or whether they all gape open into the substance of the lungs, is a doubt that still twists my mind. To unravel this, though in vain, I have attempted many things with air and liquids of various colors. I have often seen black water injected by a syringe original: "syphone". Literally a pipe or tube used for injecting fluids into anatomical specimens. through the pulmonary artery breaking out from many parts; for when light pressure is applied, it usually sweats out from the investing membrane, and partly gathers in the interstices. A larger amount, mixed with blood, breaks out through the pulmonary vein, and—what is more wonderful—it emerges diluted and less colored, with a light foam, through the trachea original: "tracheam". The windpipe.; and from any compression of the lungs, it exits through the same. Likewise, in a dried lung, the walls of the vesicles original: "vesicularum". The air sacs (alveoli). and sinuses all appear blackened. Something similar is seen to happen with injected mercury: once the pulmonary artery is filled, the mercury runs to the furthest bifurcated offshoots, which, if even lightly compressed, is vomited out from the investing membrane; sometimes, having found an entrance into the interstices, almost all of it collects there. In dried lungs, the vesicles are also seen to be reddened in various and disordered ways, while others appear whitish. From all this, since a natural path is not maintained—because the injected liquid prepares more and more paths for itself which are unusual in a state of health—we are taught that from any slight effort or change in the humors original: "humorum". In 17th-century medicine, these were the bodily fluids thought to govern health and temperament., the royal...