 |
|
Structural Basis of Cardiac Valvar Function
T. COOPER, MD, PhD;
L. M. NAPOLITANO, PhD;
M. J. T. FITZGERALD, MD, PhD;
K. E. MOORE, BS;
W. M. DAGGETT, MD;
V. L. WILLMAN, MD;
E. H. SONNENBLICK, MD;
C. R. HANLON, MD
AMA Arch Surg. 1966;93(5):767-771.
|
|
| Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings. |
|
|
|
THE LEAFLETS of the cardiac valves are generally regarded as collagen-reinforced endothelial reduplications which move passively in response to the development of transvalvar pressure gradients during rhythmic contraction of the heart.1 Success with valve prostheses has reinforced the view that a passive contribution to undirectional blood flow constitutes the only significant biological role of the valves. Despite the well-documented observation that valves may contain neural and muscular structures,2,3 this fact is not widely appreciated. Moreover, preoccupation with the dynamic aspects of atrial and ventricular muscle masses has diverted attention from the possible active role of the valves in cardiovascular regulation. We have begun a reassessment of the basic mechanisms of valve performance by analysis of cardiac valve structure in the dog.
Methods
Leaflets from all four valves in 15 dogs were excised, fixed, and prepared for study by light and electron microscopy. Valves fixed in formaldehyde solution (formalin)
. . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]
Author Affiliations
ST. LOUIS
From the departments of surgery and anatomy, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis; the Department of Anatomy, the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM; and the Cardiology Branch, National Heart Institute, Bethesda, MD.
Footnotes
Read before the 14th Scientific Meeting of the North American Chapter of the International Cardiovascular Society, Chicago, June 25, 1966.
Reprint requests to 1325 S Grand Blvd, St. Louis 63104 (Dr. Hanlon).
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
|
