Year 10 Pre-Diploma Biology

Heart Dissection
Introduction
This lab practical allows you to identify and compare the size, shape and tissue type of the
major chambers and vessels of the heart. The goal of the lab is not just to observe anatomy,
but to associate structure with function. The heart is a pump for blood that comes
into the right atrium, goes out to the lungs through the right ventricle, returns through the
left atrium, and leaves again through the left ventricle - a double circulation. Each chamber
is separated by valves that prevent the backflow of blood. Try and figure out where the
various components are, how each works, especially how the shape, composition, and even
texture of each part contribute to its function.
Preliminary Questions
! "hat is the heart#s surface like$ "hat function do you think this serves$
The heart was very slippery and wet, so the heart can move in the rib cage, this helps to
reduce friction.
%! &ow does the heart muscle itself receive oxygen for respiration$
The heart muscle receives oxygen by the coronary arteries.
Observation: External AnatomyDO NO !" AN#$IN% #E&
As you follow the instructions and find each structure, label a pin and stick the pin in the
structure. I must see all 10 structures before you may continue to the internal structures.
. 'dentify the right and left sides of the heart. (ook closely and on one side you will see a
diagonal line of blood vessels that divide the heart. The half that includes all of the apex
)pointed end! of the heart is the left side. *onfirm this by s+ueezing each half of the heart.
The left half will feel much firmer and more muscular than the right side.
%. Turn the heart so that the right side is on your right, as if it were in your body. ,ind the
large opening at the top of the heart next to the right auricle )flap of darker tissue on top of
the heart!. This is the opening to the su'erior vena cava, which brings blood from the
top half of the body )arms and head! to the ri(ht atrium) *arefully stick a glass rod down
this vessel. -ou should feel it open into the right atrium. . little down and to the left of the
Year 10 2014-2015 Pre-Diploma Biology Unit 1: CVD, Heart Dissection !i"e
*aterials
/issection kit - scissors, scalpel, forceps, etc
/rawing pencils and0or /igital *amera 1ubber0latex gloves
/issection guide and results table 2ig or sheep &eart
/iagram of heart /issection board
/issection pins 3lass rod
superior vena cava there is another blood vessel opening. This is the inferior vena cava+
which also leads to the right atrium, bringing blood from the lower tissues )legs and
abdomen!. -ou can also see another blood vessel next to the left auricle. This is a
'ulmonary vein that brings blood from the lungs into the left atrium.
4. 5ticking straight up from the centre of the heart is the most muscular blood vessel you
will see. This is the aorta, which takes oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the
rest of the body )the ventricles are the lower chambers of the heart!. The aorta branches
into more than one artery right after it leaves the heart, so it may have more than one
opening on your heart specimen. (ook carefully at the openings and you should be able to
see that they are connected to each other.
6. 7ehind and to the left of the aorta there is another large vessel. This is the 'ulmonary
artery which takes blood from the ri(ht ventricle to the lungs.
Draw simple, coloured views of the front (ventral) and a back (dorsal) eternal of the
heart.
8entral 8iew /orsal 8iew
Dissection: Internal Anatomy
.orta
2ulmonary artery
The two vena cava go into
the right atrium on the
other )dorsal! side
The pulmonary vein goes
into the left atrium on the
dorsal side.
*oronary artery and vein
"hen you need to see
inside the right ventricle,
cut here.
"hen you want to open
the left ventricle cut here.
Year 10 2014-2015 Pre-Diploma Biology Unit 1: CVD, Heart Dissection !i"e
. 'nsert your dissecting scissors or scalpel into the su'erior vena cava and make an
incision down through the wall of the ri(ht atrium and ri(ht ventricle. 2ull the two
sides apart and look for three flaps of membrane. These membranes form the tricus'id
valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle. The membranes are connected to
flaps of muscle called the papillary muscles by tendons called the chordae tendinae or
9heartstrings.9 This valve allows blood to enter the ventricle from the atrium, but prevents
backflow from the ventricle into the atrium.
!ake observations and measurements of as many structures as you can, fillin" in your
results table.
%. 'nsert a glass rod into the 'ulmonary artery and see it come through to the right
ventricle. :ake an incision down through this artery and look inside it for three small
membranous pockets. These form the 'ulmonary semi,lunar valves which prevent
blood from flowing back into the right ventricle.
4. 'nsert your dissecting scissors or scalpel into the left auricle at the base of the aorta and
make an incision down through the wall of the left atrium and ventricle, as shown by
the dotted line in the external heart picture. (ocate the mitral valve )or bicus'id valve!
between the left atrium and ventricle. This will have two flaps of membrane connected to
papillary muscles by tendons.
!ake observations and measurements of as many structures as you can, fillin" in your
results table.
6. 'nsert a glass rod into the aorta and observe where it connects to the left ventricle. :ake
an incision up through the aorta and examine the inside carefully for three small
membranous pockets. These form the aortic semi,lunar valve which prevents blood
from flowing back into the left ventricle.
At this point make sure your chart is complete with measurements and observations.
Also, make sure to draw or photo"raph each view so you can include ima"es in the lab
report showin" the structures in the table.
Year 10 2014-2015 Pre-Diploma Biology Unit 1: CVD, Heart Dissection !i"e
'nclude all other drawings of the internal heart structures here, stating from which side the
heart is being seen and labelling all identified structures.
Year 10 2014-2015 Pre-Diploma Biology Unit 1: CVD, Heart Dissection !i"e
$eart Dissection -esults able
,ill out as much of the table below as you can. 5ome boxes may not be relevant.
;bservations should include colour, texture, shape, and anything else interesting to you.
.tructure Diameter
/mm0
1all
hic2ness
/mm0
Observations
8ena *ava

6
Takes the blood from the body to the heart. 't<s
not muscular but it<s very wide. Thick walls,
thin diameter.
1ight
.trium
*ollect blood, not muscular
(arge
)Tricuspid!
valve
"hen the ventricles contract their job is to
make the blood don<t go back to the right
atrium.
1ight
8entricle
2umping blood, very muscular
5emi-lunar
valves
:akes the blood don<t flow back.
2ulmonary
.rtery
2ulmonary
8ein
(eft
.trium
*ollect blood, not muscular.
(arge
)7icuspid!
valve
"hen the ventricles contract their job is to
make the don<t blood go back to the left atrium.
(eft
8entricle
2ump blood, very muscular.
5emi-lunar
valves
:akes the blood don<t flow back.
.orta

=

4
*arries the blood from heart to the body, 't<s
muscular. The veins are floppy.
*oronary
.rtery and
8ein

Year 10 2014-2015 Pre-Diploma Biology Unit 1: CVD, Heart Dissection !i"e
$eart Dissection 3ab -e'ort
-our lab report should consist of
. . brief Introduction to what you did and what the purpose of the lab was. "hat
was the +uestion you were trying to answer, or what were the goals of the lab$ 7e
sure to specify the animal from which your heart came.
%. . -esults section that includes text and drawings0photos of the steps of the
dissection. 'n the photos, label the structures of interest. Each drawing0photo must
have a caption. .lso include in this section your completed tables of measurements
and observations.
4. . Discussion section in which you select one major anatomical feature of the
heart, e."., the tricuspid valve )valve! or the left ventricle )chamber! or the aorta
)vessel!, and discuss how its function is related to its structure. ,eatures you might
include in this description are the shape, the composition and mechanical
properties of the tissue, and the texture of any surfaces involved. #rovide evidence
from your observations, preferably numerical, for everythin" you claim.
ASSESSMENT
;7>E*T'8E E? E@2E1':EAT.( 'A8E5T'3.T';A .A/ T&E 5*'EAT','* 21;*E55
Year 10 2014-2015 Pre-Diploma Biology Unit 1: CVD, Heart Dissection !i"e