Ingeniously engineered, this fully-functional schematic replica portrays a frontally-sectioned human heart showing all four chambers, valves, and major vessels of the cardiovascular system. More convincing than a computer simulation, the liquid-filled working model provides positive visual evidence of the double pump nature of the heart, the isolation of the pulmonary and systemic circulatory systems, and the directional flow of the blood stream.
Transparent plastic tubing comprising the pulmonary arteries and veins connects the heart to the lungs, completing the pulmonary circuit. Additional tubing representing the aorta and vena cava connects the heart to a schematic capillary bed, illustrating the systemic circuit. Vessels which transport “deoxygenated blood” are tinted bluish lending a darker hue to “blood” flowing through them than the brilliant red of the “oxygenated blood” vessels. Grasping a rubber bulb in each hand and alternately squeezing them compresses the walls of the atria, then those of the ventricles, emptying the upper and lower chambers in turn.
This pumping action results in the rhythmic pulsing circulation of the “blood” (colored water.) Supplied complete with powdered food dye and plastic syringe for filling the system. Intentionally allowing some air bubbles to remain in the vessels greatly aids the observation of “blood” flow.
The model is mounted on a 14x15 inch (35x37 cm) formica-laminated base board with support legs.ap43