Abstract
THE explanation of Dr. C. A. Beevers' observations1 (which I can confirm and to which I would add the further observation that the puffs of smoke correspond to cardiac systole) would seem to lie in the close resemblance of the human chest to the box used for the production of smoke rings to which he refers. Both have relatively rigid walls with a diaphragm and an orifice. In the case of the chest the contraction of the heart muscle during systole, acting from the relatively fixed great vessels of the head and arms, pulls its diaphragmatic attachment upwards, thus reducing the volume of the thorax. Air, being the most easily displaced thoracic content, is expelled in small jets corresponding to each cardiac systole and produces the effect noted by Beevers.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Beevers, C. A., Nature, 161, 65 (1948).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
HIRD, A. Demonstration of the Heart Beat. Nature 161, 321 (1948). https://doi.org/10.1038/161321b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/161321b0
This article is cited by
-
Demonstration of the Heart Beat
Nature (1948)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.