Anatomy, Comparative; Embryology, Human; Evolution; Human beings -- Origin
In perfect harmony with its phylogeny, the embryonic development of
the human heart shows a gradual transition from the fish-heart,
through the amphibian and reptile, to the mammal form, The most
important point in the transition is the formation of a longitudinal
partition--incomplete at first, but afterwards complete--which
separates all three divisions of the heart into right (venous) and
left (arterial) halves (cf. Figures 2.373 to 2.378). The atrium is
separated into a right and left half, each of which absorbs the
corresponding auricle; into the right auricle open the body-veins
(upper and lower vena cava, Figures 2.375 c and 2.377 c); the left
auricle receives the pulmonary veins. In the same way a superficial
interventricular furrow is soon seen in the ventricle (Figure 2.376
s). This is the external sign of the internal partition by which the
ventricle is divided into two--a right venous and left arterial
ventricle. Finally a longitudinal partition is formed in the third
section of the primitive fish-like heart, the arterial bulb,
externally indicated by a longitudinal furrow (Figure 2.376 af). The
cavity of the bulb is divided into two lateral halves, the
pulmonary-artery bulb, that opens into the right ventricle, and the
aorta-bulb, that opens into the left ventricle. When all the
partitions are complete, the small (pulmonary) circulation is
distinguished from the large (body) circulation; the motive centre of
the former is the right half, and that of the latter the left half, of
the heart.
The heart of all the Vertebrates belongs originally to the hyposoma of
the head, and we accordingly find it in the embryo of man and all the
other Amniotes right in front on the under-side of the head; just as
in the fishes it remains permanently in front of the gullet. It
afterwards descends into the trunk, with the advance in the
development of the neck and breast, and at last reaches the breast,
between the two lungs. At first it lies symmetrically in the middle
plane of the body, so that its long axis corresponds with that of the
body. In most of the mammals it remains permanently in this position.
But in the apes the axis begins to be oblique, and the apex of the
heart to move towards the left side. The displacement is greatest in
the anthropoid apes--chimpanzee, gorilla, and orang--which resemble
man in this.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account