1. Correct human cardiac nomenclature
- Author
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Szczepanek, Elżbieta, Jasińska, Katarzyna A., Godula, Daromir, Kucharska, Ewa, Walocha, Jerzy, and Mazur, Małgorzata
- Subjects
valves ,cardiac nomenclature ,left ventricle ,attitudinally correct anatomy ,myocardium ,Valentine position ,heart anatomy ,right ventricle ,right atrium ,left atrium - Abstract
Proper heart’s nomenclature is very important in daily clinical practice and research studies, andwhen it is consistent, it can facilitate better communication between different medical specialists. Thegeneral rule of the anatomy is to describe organs and their structures in attitudinally correct position.However, the use of the old-fashioned Valentine position (where the heart is described as if it werestanding on its apex) is still in use to describe important cardiac structures. Upon closer analysis, all main chambers of the heart and their associated subcomponents have mislabeled structures that should be renamed. In this article we aimed to emphasize the limitations of Valentinian nomenclature, presentproper anatomical names of the most important heart’s structures and advocate to change certain mis-labeled anatomical structures. Attitudinally correct designations presented in this study will benefit allmedical specialties, and they will reinforce the importance of consistent orientational naming. Correctnaming of heart’s structures will also help improve communication between different medical specialists.
- Published
- 2020