PUNCTUM SALIENS, in Anatomy, the first rudiments of the heart in the formation of the foetus, where a throbbing motion is perceived. This is said to be easily observed with a microscope in a brood-egg, wherein after conception, we see a little speck or cloud, in the middle whereof is a spot that appears to beat or leap a considerable time before the foetus is formed for hatching. See the articles FOETUS and ANATOMY.