BE OUR VALENTINE! We present to you this Valentine artery that was observed inside the brain. While we know well that the heart and brain are connected in matters of love, are there other heart-brain connections and could they have important implications for our...
June Image of the Month
You be the Pathologist! What is abnormal in this native mitral valve leaflet?Answer A bone has formed in this native mitral valve leaflet! The native leaflet is composed of fibrous and elastic connective tissue that is particularly active during the cardiac cycle....
July Image of the Month
You be the Interventionalist! What blood vessel is being imaged here, and in which species?ANSWER This image is an angiogram of the left coronary artery in a sheep (left anterior descending and circumflex arteries)! Here’s how we know: The ovine model is known for its...
May Image of the Month
You Be the Safety Officer! Why is this veterinary surgeon carefully positioning a sterile shield and wearing protective clothing like those glasses?Answer To reduce radiation exposure! Time, distance, and shielding are the three best ways to reduce your risk of...
April Image of the Month
You be the Pathologist! Where was this bone seen?Answer In the heart! It is called os cordis. Indeed, some animals (mostly ruminants) can have bones inside their heart, located in the vicinity of trigones (os cordis sinistrum and os cordis dextrum), and forming part...
March Image of the Month
You be the Anatomist! To which species does this image of an aortic arch (red arrow) belong?Answer This is an image of a porcine (pig) aortic arch! Here’s how we know: From the aortic arch (red arrow) emerge two branches, (i) the brachiocephalic trunk (green arrow)...
October Image of the Month
YOU BE THE PATHOLOGIST! What are these (*) large cells, considered to be one of the main inflammatory cells at the tissue-device interface? (Scale bar: 25 µm) ANSWER These are multinucleated giant cells! Multinucleated giant cells are the dominant...
September Image of the Month
YOU BE THE CARDIAC IMAGING SPECIALIST! What imaging modality is used to determine the aortomitral angulation in this ovine, and why is its precise measurement so critical? ANSWER The aortomitral angulation is being measured with the use of our new Canon computerized...
May Image of the Month
YOU BE THE CARDIAC IMAGING SPECIALIST! What abnormality is demonstrated in this color flow Doppler echocardiogram? ANSWER Functional Mitral Regurgitation! In the presence of heart disease, the mitral annulus can dilate to the point where the leaflets of the mitral...
February Image of the Month
ANSWER: These Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Leaflets Are Infected! Bacterial endocarditis is a known potential complication of the implantation of a bioprosthetic cardiac valve. This can result from a break in sterility or simply following an episode of sporadic...