Sheep Heart Dissection: External Anatomy

Name ___________________________________ Hour_________
Sheep Heart Dissection

External Anatomy
1. Identify the right and left sides of the heart. Look closely
and on one side you will see a diagonal line of blood vessels
that divide the heart, this line is called the interventricular
sulcus. The half that includes all of the apex (pointed end) of
the heart is the left side.
2. Locate the coronary arteries and veins that are on the
surface of the heart.
3.. Find the flaps of dark tissue on the top of the heart. These
ear-like flaps are called auricles.
4. The front-most vessel is the pulmonary trunk. Place a
probe or pencil in this vessel to mark its place.
5. Just behind the pulmonary trunk is the aorta. Depending
on how the heart was removed, you might also see a branch
of the aorta called the brachiocephalic artery. Place a pencil
or probe in the aorta to mark its place.
6. Turn the heart so that you are looking at its dorsal

side (the back of the heart.) Find the large opening at
the top of the heart next to the right auricle. This is
the superior vena cava. Place a pencil in this vessel,
you may also use your finger to feel the inside of
the right atrium.
7. Locate another opening on the backside of the heart
on the left side. This is the pulmonary vein. You can
feel the inside of the right atrium by probing this
opening with your finger. Place a pencil in
the pulmonary vein opening.
Checkpoint: Make sure you know the location of each
of the following before continuing to the internal
anatomy of the heart:
superior vena cava inferior vena cava aorta
pulmonary artery pulmonary veins
left atrium and ventricle right atrium and ventricle
auricle apex coronary arteries & veins interventricular sulcus
8. Visually (or use diagrams) to indicate which vessels connect to which chambers:
Pulmonary artery to the ______________________________
Pulmonary vein to the _______________________________
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Aorta to the ______________________________________
Superior vena cava to the ____________________________
Dissection: Internal Anatomy

1. Use a scalpel to make an incision in the heart at the superior vena cava. The
incision should follow the line of the right side of the heart so that you can open
just the right side and see the right atrium, the right ventricle, and
the tricuspid valve between them. Alternatively, you can make a single cut
that bisects the heart into the front and back halves.
2. The chordae tendineae, also called the "heartstrings" can be found attached to
the thin flaps of the tricuspid. They are anchored to the wall of the heart at
the papillary muscle.
3. Make a similar incision on the left side of the heart to expose the left
atrium, left ventricle, and the bicuspid (mitral) valve. You will also be able to see
the chordae tendineae and the papillary muscle on this side of the heart.
5. Insert a probe into the aorta and observe where the probe exits the heart. You
may even be able to find the small aortic semilunar valve at the place where the
aorta connects to the heart. This valve does not have chordae tendineae and was
likely broken when you identified the aorta in the first part of this activity.
** Compare the heart of the sheep to human hearts by viewing various heart models in the
room.

Label the Heart
1. _________suprerior vena cave___________________
2. __________briochiocephalic trunk__________________
3. ___________left common carotid artery_________________
4. ____________left subclavian artery________________
5. _____________aorta_______________
6. _____________pulmonary artery_______________
7. _____________right atrium_______________
8. _____________pulmonary valve_______________
9. _____________left atrium_______________
10. ____________right ventricle_______________
11. ____________tricuspid_______________
12. ____________left ventricle_______________
13. ____________aortic valve_______________
14. What muscles attach to the chordae tendineae to hold the valves
in place? __________papillary muscles________________
15. What are the flaps on the front of the atria called?
_________superior vena cava_________________
16. If you place a probe in the aorta, into what chamber will it exit? _the right atrium_________________________
17. The superior and inferior vena cava enter into what chamber of the heart? ________left
atrium__________________
18. The large vessel on the front of the heart that lies in front of the aorta is the ______pulmonary trunk__________
19. What are the tendons that connect the valves to the muscles ? ________chordae tendineae __________________
20. What is another name for the bicuspid valve? ________mitral valve__________________
(Larger version of heart for overhead projector)

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Name ___________________________ Hour_

Sheep Heart Dissection

6. Turn the heart so that you are looking at its dorsal

Dissection: Internal Anatomy

(Larger version of heart for overhead projector)

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