A15

HEART - Ventricular septal defect and coarctation of aorta

Description
This specimen shows the anterior aspect of the heart and lungs (note that the pulmonary trunk arises anterior to the aortic root). The heart has been opened, but the ventricular septal defect is very difficult to see. The right ventricle (left side of jar) is hypertrophied and the pulmonary trunk is enlarged. The aorta is markedly narrowed from the level of the left common carotid artery to just beyond the arch, and a large short branch arises from the pulmonary trunk to meet the descending aorta. (The descending aorta has been reflected upwards and contains sutures).