The Anatomy of the Olmec Heart

THE ANATOMY OF THE OLMEC HEART GORDON BENDERSKY* I welcome Dr. Phoon's comments on my research regarding the anatomical interpretation of the Olmec Heart Effigy [I]. Not only does Dr. Phoon brilliantly provide a basis for demonstrating his suggested four-chambered Olmec heartbut, in the process oflogically recognizing the existence ofthe atria, he has diminished the distortions I found necessary for my analysis of the great vessels [2]. In addition, Dr. Phoon's identification of these blood vessels tends to eliminate an otherwise awkwardly misplaced "superior vena cava" by being able to omit it altogether. The beauty of this new understanding is that the horizontal line demarcating the cut of the lid of this container represents the atrioventricular groove. As a result, this new anatomical scheme is an excellent alternative to the perpendicularity and biventricular plan I reconstructed. However, while they do not substantially refute his interpretation, there are three apparent difficulties with Dr. Phoon's designations: 1. There is one fundamental perspective to the effigy's right-sided artery (Dr. Phoon's "aorta") which I refer to as the pulmonary artery. This artery has the distinct appearance of emerging almost directly from the anterior surface of the right ventricle and then coursing posteriorly, which is typical for the pulmonary artery. Furthermore, the level at which the aorta normally courses posteriorly is at the point where it begins to arch over that part of the pulmonary artery where the latter branches (Fig. 1). Therefore, if this right-sided artery were the aorta, it would be expected to pass through Dr. Phoon's V, and in the effigy it does not do that. Thus it would seem that the Olmec sculptor chose the pulmonary artery to be portrayed on the right. Yet, in support of Dr. Phoon, the head of the figure has a pivotal role here ofdisplacing the normal anatomy. As a result and contrary to my position, the head could be described as awedge removing the Phoon *Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, MCP-Hahneman School of Medicine, 623 Anthony Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027.© 1998 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved. 0031-5982/98/4104-1073101.00 546 Gordon Bendersky ¦ The Anatomy of the Olmec Heart Fig. 1.—The anatomy of the pulmonary artery as it branches into the right and left pulmonary arteries and their relationship to die arch of the aorta. Drawn from [5] . Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 41, 4 ¦ Summer 1998 547 "aorta" from the branching (V) pulmonary artery, thereby placing this "aorta" on the right side. 2.The shape which the normal branching right and left pulmonary arteries forms is a T rather than a V (see Fig. 1). This does not necessarily refute Dr. Phoon's identification of these pulmonary artery branches, because the left upper extremity of the figure in clasping these vessels close to his neck might be expected to compress the branches converting the T into a V. 3.Both the Olmec and the more inclusive Middle Formative Ceremonial Complex possessed a basic concept of duality which continued in the later Precolumbian societies [3, 4]. This good and evil, morning and evening star, twins, double-headed figures, day-night, life-death masks, sky-earth and light-darkness duality is much more dominant than the quadrilateral feature, to which I referred previously [2]. This duality supports my twochambered heart interpretation, but it does not actually exclude Dr. Phoon's conclusion of a four-chambered heart, because of his suggestion of two atria and two ventricles. Moreover, this duality also is consistent with Dr. Phoon's emphasis on the twin left-sided arteries being the two branches of the pulmonary artery. Dr. Phoon has reconciled the complexities of the Olmec heart. With an attempt to comprehend the nuances of the sculptor's intentions, our analyses evoke a spirit of sophisticated anatomical knowledge at the command of the Olmec artist. REFERENCES 1.Phoon, C. K. The Olmec heart effigy revisited and reinterpreted. Persp. Biol. Med. [need] 2.Bendersky, G. The Olmec heart effigy: Earliest image of the human heart. Persp. Biol. Med. 40:348-61, 1997. 3.Ryan, M. The Art ofAncient Mexico. London: South Bank Center, 1992. 182...