Heart Dissection Report Essay

Introduction/Purpose In this lab experiment, I examined a pig’s heart and compared it to a human’s heart. The pig’s heart is very similar to a human’s heart by having the same structures, veins, valves, and chambers. I was unable to perform hands on examination on a human heart so I examined a pig’s heart. I was able to identify major areas of the heart and dissect it to examine the inside chambers and valves. This experiment helped me have a better understanding of the heart and how it functions. Materials and Methods In order to dissect the heart, I used many different instruments. I used a dissecting tray, biohazard bag, a probe, forceps, scissors, and a scalpel. The procedure follows: 1) Rinse the heart to remove as much of the preservative as possible. 2) Locate and identify different areas of the outside of the heart. Identify the coronary artery, great cardiac vein, aorta, pulmonary trunk, superior vena cava, auricles, visceral pericardium, right and left atrium, and the right and left ventricles. 3) Use the probe to figure out where the vena cava, aorta, and pulmonary arteries enter or exit the heart. 4) Locate and dissect the great cardiac vein. Use the scalpel to slice on both sides of the great cardiac vein and across the top. Use the forceps to pull out the vein to examine it closer. 5) Use the scalpel to perform a frontal dissection on the heart. 6) Identify the right and left atrium, right and left ventricles, the tricuspid valve, the mitral valve, chordae tendineae, and the papillary muscles. 7) Use the scalpel or scissors to make a sagittal dissection of the heart. 8) Examine the tricuspid valve and mitral valve closer. 9) Dispose the heart into the biohazard bags. Rinse and clean the trays. Data and Results I was able to acquire a better understanding of how the heart functions by doing this lab. I was able to identify all of the structures, veins, arteries, valves and chambers. I was able to see how the left ventricle was a lot larger and thicker than the right ventricle. I also got a better understanding of how the blood flows through the heart and through the arteries and veins. Discussion or Analysis The pig’s heart was very similar to the human heart and made it easy to identify all of the structures. I was able to pull out the great cardiac vein and view how small it was. This is the vein that if it is clogged, you have a heart attack. Conclusion In conclusion, this experiment was a great learning tool to better understand the heart. I was able to hold the heart and look at it at many different angles to understand it better. The pig’s heart was similar to the human heart so it was almost like I was looking at the human heart.