Goal: To identify the various structures of the heart while stressing function and importance
External Surface of the Heart
Outer Surface • Base • Apex (Always formed by the LV) • Left Ventricle (LV) • Right Ventricle (RV) • Left Atrium (also atrial appendage) • Right Atrium (Atrial appendage) • Epicardium • Intraventricular Groove Major Vessels: • Vena Cavae • Pulmonary Artery • Aorta • Coronary arteries Internal Anatomy of the Heart Valves • Tricuspid Valve • Pulmonic Vale • Mitral Valve • Aortic Valve Other • Endocardium • Interatrial and Interventricular Septums • Chordae Tendenae &Papillary Muscles • Position of Tricuspid and Pulmonic Valves • Position of the Mitral and Aortic Valve • Position of coronary arteries to the Aortic Valve.
Dissection of the Heart 1. Identify all of the external features of the heart, including the major vessels (see list on page 1).
Vessels and Landmarks , Right Side
Review of Vessels and Landmarks Base, Apex, Aorta, Superior Vena Cava, Inferior Vena Cava, Right Atrium, Right Ventricle.
Vessels and Landmarks , Left Side
Review of Vessels and Landmarks Base, Apex, Aorta, Superior Vena Cava, Inferior Vena Cava, Right Atrium, Right Ventricle.
2. Locate the right atrium and identify the openings of the vena cavae. Open the Right Atrium
Open the Right Atrium by cutting from the superior vena cava to the inferior vena cava. From the middle of this cut, make a cut to the tip of the atrium.
3. Open the right atrial appendage and atrium to expose the interior. 4. Inspect the inner surfaces of the atrium and appendage, and look at the tricuspid valve.
Open the Right Ventricle
Open the Right Ventricle by cutting from the pulmonic artery to the apex, following the groove of the heart wall in a left spiral.
5. You can then dissect across the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle to expose the internal structures. Then inspect and identify all visible internal structures of the right ventricle. In particular note the arrangements of the pulmonic valve, the chordae tendineae, the papillary muscles, and the endocardium. Open the Left Atrium
Open the Left Atrium by cutting from the pulmonic vein to the tip of the left atrium.
6. Locate the left atrium and identify the openings of the pulmonary veins 7. Open the left auricle and atrium to expose the interior. 8. Inspect the inner surfaces of the atria and appendage, and look at the Mitral valve. Can you see the chordae tendineae?
Open the Left Ventricle
Open the Left Ventricle by extending a cut from the left atrium and up the mitral valve.
9. Incise the wall of the left ventricle to expose the interior surfaces. 10. Identify using your finger inserted into the ventricle, the location of the origin of the aorta. Note: your finger will need to pass ‘behind’ the mitral valve in order to enter the aorta.
11. After having completed your inspection of the internal surfaces, locate the aorta. You may be able to visual the aortic valve leaflets. If not cut it along its length until you expose the aortic valve and visual the valve leaflets.
Coronary Arteries
12. Identify the origins of the two main coronary arteries.