This heart specimen from 1908 (which has been repaired) illustrates Pericarditis which is inflammation of the pericardium: the membrane around the heart). Anything with "-itis" at the end means "swelling or inflammation of" such as appendicitis or tonsillitis. "Peri" means "around" and anything with "cardio/cardium" means "heart" so when you break it down its quite clear. The first picture shows what should be smooth pericardium has been replaced by a thick layer of granulation tissue (which is the type of thickened tissue that normally forms on a wound) and thats why this doesn't look like a healthy or 'normal' heart. The other pic just illustrates the heart has been cut in two and suspended as a half #adventcalendar #humanremains #anatomy #pathology #specimen #wetspecimen #conservation #medicalmuseum #pathologymuseum #anatomymuseum #histmed #conservator #pericarditis
