Sheep Dissection Plan
Tools needed for the dissection of the sheep heart are; 1 scalpel and 3-4 mall probes.
Before cutting into the heart, trim the fat around the atria and great vessels. Also be sure to identify and explore a few structures/features such as the base and apex of the heart before making any incisions.
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You will need to orient the heart so that the vena cava is placed dorsally. The apex of the heart will be inferior to the base. The superior/inferior left pulmonary veins along with the superior/inferior right pulmonary veins create an X shape on the dorsal/posterior side of the heart. The Superior vena cava lies just superiorly to the right pulmonary veins. Below the right pulmonary veins is where the right atrium can be found. The left atrium is just inferior to the left pulmonary veins. Bordering the left atrium is the coronary sinus. The coronary sinus separates the left/right atria from the left/right ventricles. Running longitudinally and separating the left ventricle from the right ventricle is the anterior interventricular sulcus. The coronary artery runs on an oblique angle from the right atrium to about midway down the right ventricle. The pulmonary trunk is on the superior end of the right ventricle and opens up inside of it via the pulmonary valve.
To begin the dissection to view the valves of the heart, you will need to make a small incision transversely, just below the aortic arch. The incision will cut deep into the heart, but will not completely separate it. The cut will give the heart a clam-shell look.
Once the incision has been made, carefully open the heart. You should be able to view the left atrioventricular valve (bicuspid), the right antrioventricular valve (tricuspid), the aortic valve, and the pulmonary valve. The aortic valve will be just superior to the pulmonary valve and both are smaller in size compared to the left and right AV valves. The aortic valve is where the aorta
Before cutting into the heart, trim the fat around the atria and great vessels. Also be sure to identify and explore a few structures/features such as the base and apex of the heart before making any incisions.
[pic]
You will need to orient the heart so that the vena cava is placed dorsally. The apex of the heart will be inferior to the base. The superior/inferior left pulmonary veins along with the superior/inferior right pulmonary veins create an X shape on the dorsal/posterior side of the heart. The Superior vena cava lies just superiorly to the right pulmonary veins. Below the right pulmonary veins is where the right atrium can be found. The left atrium is just inferior to the left pulmonary veins. Bordering the left atrium is the coronary sinus. The coronary sinus separates the left/right atria from the left/right ventricles. Running longitudinally and separating the left ventricle from the right ventricle is the anterior interventricular sulcus. The coronary artery runs on an oblique angle from the right atrium to about midway down the right ventricle. The pulmonary trunk is on the superior end of the right ventricle and opens up inside of it via the pulmonary valve.
To begin the dissection to view the valves of the heart, you will need to make a small incision transversely, just below the aortic arch. The incision will cut deep into the heart, but will not completely separate it. The cut will give the heart a clam-shell look.
Once the incision has been made, carefully open the heart. You should be able to view the left atrioventricular valve (bicuspid), the right antrioventricular valve (tricuspid), the aortic valve, and the pulmonary valve. The aortic valve will be just superior to the pulmonary valve and both are smaller in size compared to the left and right AV valves. The aortic valve is where the aorta