Tag: Nutmeg liver

In medical pathology, the “nutmeg appearance” is a descriptive term for a speckled or mottled pattern on an organ, most notably the liver. This distinctive look is a sign of chronic passive congestion, often resulting from underlying heart failure, and resembles the cross-section of a grated nutmeg kernel.

First described by anatomist Francis Kiernan in 1833, the nutmeg pattern is a term with dual meanings, most prominently referring to a mottled appearance of the liver in medical pathology due to chronic venous congestion. However, the same term can also describe distinct aesthetics in the world of design and crafts. This article explores both applications of the 'nutmeg pattern,' detailing its medical significance and its less common, creative interpretations.