Hooper, Robert [Editor]: The Anatomist's Vade-Mecum: Containing The Anatomy, Physiology, Morbid Appearances, &c. Of The Human Body ; The Art of making Anatomical Preparations, &c. To which are added Anatomical, Physiological, Medical, And Surgical Examinations For Students (London, 1811)

( 17-1 )

pulmonary artery soon divides into a right and left;—the
Bight going to the right lung, and the left to the left lung;
where they divide into innumerable ramifications, and form
a beautiful net-work, or plexus of vessels, upon the air-vesicles,
called the rete mirabile, and then terminate in the pulmonary
veins, which convey the blood, now become florid, to the
left side of the heart.

Tlfe pulmonary artery seldom becomes ossified ; and is
very rarely attacked with aneurism. One case, how-
ever, of aneurism of the pulmonary artery, the author
has seen, which was of the size of his fist.

ACTION OF ARTERIES.

The arteries, by the impulse of the blood from the ventricles
of the heart, are dilated and irritated, and by means of their
muscular coat contract upon the blood, and thus propel it to
the glands, muscles, bones, membranes, and every part o
the bodj-, for their nutrition and the various secretions'] and
then into the veins. This dilatation and contraction is called
the pulse, which is perceptible in the trunks and branches
of the arteries, but not in Ihc capillary vessels, except when
inflammation is going on.

DISEASED APPEARANCE OF THE ARTERIES.

The diseases of arteries, which are detected by the auatn-
mist post mortem, are, aneurism, white patches, ossification,
inflammation, and redness of the internal membrane.