Name:

Date: Per:

LAB: SHEEP HEART DISSECTION

Purpose
To review the major anatomical structures of the human heart and examine major anatomical structures of a
mammalian (sheep) heart.

Materials
• Preserved sheep heart • Probe • Gloves
• Dissecting pan • Scissors • Whiteboard Marker
• Scalpel • Tweezers

PART A—The Human Heart
1. Using your notes and wonderful memory to label the diagram of the human heart.

2. Read through the analysis questions on your lab report as you should be answering them as a groups as you dissect
the sheep heart.

PART B—Dissection of a Sheep Heart
Review your LAB ROLES. Use a whiteboard marker to put a ✔ in each box below.

1. Place the heart in a dissecting tray with its anterior surface up (See Figure 1 below). Locate the interventricular sulcus
and label it with a solid black line. Have your team leader check to make sure you have labeled this correctly.

a. Locate the visceral pericardium, which appears as a thin, transparent layer on the surface of the
heart. Use a scalpel to remove a portion of
this layer and expose the myocardium beneath.
Also note the abundance of fat along the paths
of various blood vessels. This adipose tissue
occurs in the loose connective tissue that
underlies the visceral pericardium.

b. Identify the following:
o right atrium FIGURE 1
o right ventricle
o left atrium
o left ventricle

5. Examine the posterior surface of the heart (Figure 2 below).
Locate the coronary sulcus and label it with a solid black line.
Have your team leader check to make sure you have labeled this
correctly before proceeding.

Check for Understanding:
Identify the following anatomical strucutres:
interventricular sulcus, visceral pericardium,
myocardium, adipose tissue, coronary sulcus

Self Score
Directions: Circle one of the statements below. At this point in the lab…
I can teach it I get it I’m starting to get it I don’t get it.


6. Place the heart on its side so that the right ventricle is resting on your dissection tray and the apex of the heart is
pointed toward you. The anterior side of the heart should be on your left and the posterior side of the heart should
be on your right. Make a “mock” incision bisecting the anterior and posterior sides of the heart.

7. Flip the heart onto its other side so that the left ventricle is resting on your dissection tray and the apex of the heart is
pointed away from you. The anterior side of the heart should be on your right and the posterior side of the heart
should be on your left. Make a “mock” incision bisecting the anterior and posterior sides of the heart. Have your
team leader check your “mock” incisions before making any cuts.

8. Once both of your “mock” incision have been checked, carefully cut into the heart. You want to penetrate
the entire depth of the heart wall (myocardium), but no further.

9. Open the right atrium. There are three vessels that enter
the right atrium: the superior vena cava, the inferior vena
cava, and the coronary sinus.
a. Place your probe (red or blue pointer)
through each of the three vessels to see where
blood enters the heart.
b. Locate the tricuspid valve.

10. Open the right ventricle.

a. Use your probe to trace the flow of blood through
the pulmonary trunk.
.
b. Examine the pulmonary semilunar valve.

11. Open the left atrium.
a. Locate the four openings of the pulmonary veins.
Pass your probe through each opening and locate
the stump of its vessel on the exterior of the heart.

b. Examine the bicuspid valve (mitral valve).

12. Open the left ventricle.
FIGURE 2
a. Compare the thickness of the left ventricular wall with that of the right ventricle.

b. Locate the chordae tendinae and papillary muscles.

c. Use your probe to trace the flow of blood through the aorta.

d. Compare the thickness of the aortic wall with that of the pulmonary trunk.

e. Examine the aortic semilunar valve.

13. Place your heart and all of the chunks back into a zip-lock bag the heart. Place the bag in the trash.

14. Clean up your table, tray, and tools.







 Name: Date: Per:

Part A: The Human Heart

Please label the diagram of the human heart below.
1
2 1___________________________________
9 2. __________________________________

3. __________________________________
3
4. __________________________________
10
5. __________________________________
5 11
6. __________________________________
12
4 7. __________________________________

8. __________________________________

13 9. __________________________________

6 10. _________________________________
14
11. _________________________________
12. _________________________________
7

13. _________________________________
8
14. _________________________________
15. _________________________________
15


Analysis Questions – Group Work
1. How can you tell which side of the heart is the anterior surface and which side is the posterior surface?



2. How many chambers are found in the human heart? List these chambers in the order in which blood
flows through them. Include ARROWS in your answer!



3. Which chambers are the pumping chambers of the heart?

4. Which chambers are the receiving chambers of the heart?

5. From where in the body does the blood entering the superior vena cava come? Inferior vena cava?


6. How do the walls of the atria compare with the walls of the ventricles and why are they different?





7. How do the walls of the right ventricle compare with the walls of the left ventricle? Why are they different?



8. What is the purpose of heart valves?


10. Vessels that carry blood away from the heart are called ___________________, while _________________
carry blood toward the heart.


11. Which artery is the largest and why?



12. What is the purpose of the coronary artery and what results if there is blockage in this vessel? Be specific!



13. Can an artery carry deoxygenated blood? Please explain.




14. Using words or a flow chart, trace blood flow through the major blood vessels and 4 chambers of the
heart, starting with deoxygenated blood returned from the body.

Notes: Lab - Sheep Heart Dissection Lab - Lab Safety Review
Directions: Go to Ms. Fine’s HSA teacher website and view the Sheep Heart Dissection ppt. Fill-in the blanks below.
Glue this in your science notebook!

1. Follow all instructions.
2. NEVER , , or anything in lab.
3. Never spray cologne or perfume in lab.
4. Never run, push, objects or engage in horseplay.
5. Report All accidents or injuries immediately.
6. Use equipment only as directed and only when permission is given.
7. Keep floors (Bags go under desk).
8. Do not leave your experiment unattended.
9. Wash hands with and water before leaving lab.
10. Always cut from you and down on the tray. Razors, scalpels, dissecting needles, and
other sharp instruments MUST be carried in a or protective container
11. Tie back long hair.
12. Remove loose .
13. Protective must be worn properly.
14. Be aware of where others are located around you.
15. Do NOT talk with your if you have sharp instruments in them.
16. If you need to step out of the room, let Ms. Fine know.
17. All materials that are involved with this lab must be placed in the black trash bag. Do NOT put any
trash including used gloves, paper towels, or heart parts in the regular classroom trash can.


Notes: Lab - Sheep Heart Dissection Lab - Lab Safety Review
Directions: Go to Ms. Fine’s HSA teacher website and view the Sheep Heart Dissection ppt. Fill-in the blanks below.
Glue this in your science notebook!

1. Follow all instructions.
2. NEVER , , or anything in lab.
3. Never spray cologne or perfume in lab.
4. Never run, push, objects or engage in horseplay.
5. Report All accidents or injuries immediately.
6. Use equipment only as directed and only when permission is given.
7. Keep floors (Bags go under desk).
8. Do not leave your experiment unattended.
9. Wash hands with and water before leaving lab.
10. Always cut from you and down on the tray. Razors, scalpels, dissecting needles, and
other sharp instruments MUST be carried in a or protective container
11. Tie back long hair.
12. Remove loose .
13. Protective must be worn properly.
14. Be aware of where others are located around you.
15. Do NOT talk with your if you have sharp instruments in them.
16. If you need to step out of the room, let Ms. Fine know.
17. All materials that are involved with this lab must be placed in the black trash bag. Do NOT put any
trash including used gloves, paper towels, or heart parts in the regular classroom trash can.