Feb 22 -
53. Langendorff heart, noun. An ex vivo preparation (a functioning specimen of organ or tissue isolated from the organism to which it belongs) for the mammalian heart. Named after the German physiologist who invented the technique.
A Langendorff heart consists of an isolated mammalian heart—rat, guinea pig, sheep, human; whatever you like—with a thin tube, or cannula, inserted into the aorta. A suitable oxygenated fluid, such as blood or enriched saline, is pumped through the tube. This is the reverse direction in which blood usually flows, and it forces the aortic valve shut, permeating the cardiac tissues with oxygen and nutrients. Amazingly, this process induces the temporary resumption of a normal heartbeat. While this is happening, a number of variables—heart rate, muscle contraction, etc.—can be observed.
He sends me a pretty little heart in the mail, one thin enough to slip beneath the sole of my foot. I’ll feel it beating there. Each step will risk disaster.
Isn’t that how it always works?
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