Sheep heart dissection provides a hands-on learning experience for biology students studying the anatomy of the heart. This lab guide outlines the procedure for identifying heart chambers, valves, and blood vessels, while tracing the path of blood flow. Students will learn about the differences between the right and left ventricles, the role of the pulmonary and systemic circulation, and the significance of heart valves. Ideal for high school biology classes, this guide enhances understanding of cardiovascular physiology and prepares students for practical exams.

Key Points

  • Explains the anatomy of the sheep heart, including chambers and valves.
  • Details the blood flow pathway through the heart and its major vessels.
  • Includes step-by-step dissection procedures for hands-on learning.
  • Highlights the differences between the right and left ventricles.
  • Discusses the role of heart valves in preventing backflow of blood.
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Name ____________________________ Date _________________ Period _____ Score out of 10 _____
Corrected by ___________________________
Sheep Heart Dissection
What are the chambers, valves, and blood vessels of the heart?
What path does blood take through the heart?
The heart is a fist-sized muscle located to the left of the center of the chest. The heart contains four
chambers. The upper chambers are called atria. The lower chambers are called ventricles. Between
each chamber, there are valves that prevent the backflow of blood.
Blood is carried away from the heart by blood vessels called arteries and carried back toward the
heart by blood vessels called veins. Arteries and veins are connected by capillaries. Arteries have
muscular, elastic walls to help move the blood through the body. Veins have one-way valves to prevent
the backflow of blood on its return to the heart.
Oxygen-poor blood from cells of the body enters the heart through the right atrium and is pumped
into the right ventricle. The blood then travels into the pulmonary artery, which goes into the lungs.
In the lungs, the blood gives off carbon dioxide and picks up oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood returns to
the heart by way of the pulmonary vein.
The blood enters the left atrium and is pumped into the left ventricle. The blood is pumped out of the
heart through the aorta to cells in the rest of the body.
The muscular wall of the left ventricle is thicker than the wall of the right ventricle because it has to
pump the blood to the entire body. Blood leaving the right ventricle only goes to go to the lungs.
Each time the ventricles contract, blood is forced through the arteries. This force causes a beat, or
pulse, that is felt in arteries at the wrist, neck, and temple. The pulse is exactly the same as the
heartbeat.
In this investigation you will examine the chambers, valves, and blood vessels of the heart. You will also
trace the path of blood through the heart. Use the above information, your PowerPoint notes, and the
textbook to help you answer the questions in this lab.
Materials
• sheep heart
• dissecting tray
• probe
• metric ruler
• scissors/scalpel
• tweezers
Procedure (Day 1) You will not cut the heart open today!
You do NOT need to write in complete sentences.
Identify the right and left sides of the heart
Obtain a sheep heart and place the heart in a dissecting tray. Imagine the heart in the body of a
person facing you. The left side of their heart is on their left, but since you are facing them, it is on
your right. Position your heart in the tray so that it matches the diagram below.
1. Find the apex of the heart. Is this at the top or bottom point of the heart?
__________
Only the left ventricle extends or goes all the way to the apex.
2. Measure the length of the heart from top to bottom in cm.
________________
Find the arteries
Place the heart in your pan with the apex
toward you and the smooth round side facing
the ceiling.
There will be a groove with a blood vessel in
it. This is called the coronary artery. As
you are looking at the heart, this blood vessel
runs diagonally from the right side of the wide
end of the heart to a point above and to the
left of the apex.
The pulmonary artery should be towards to
the top at the wide end of the heart. .
The right ventricle now lies to your left and
toward the wider end of the heart from the
coronary artery. The pulmonary artery to the
lungs can be seen curving out of the right
ventricle toward the left side of the heart
(toward your right).
Locate the superior and inferior vena cavas
Locate the two large blood vessels that
enter the right atrium. These are the
superior and inferior vena cavas. You will
need to pick up the heart and look at the back
side of it to find the vena cavas.
Stick your finger into the superior vena cava
(or top one) and have it come out of the
inferior vena cava (or bottom one). Both
vena cavas enter the right atrium.
Review
3. Go back to your pulmonary artery. Look at the back side of the heart and see the pulmonary
artery branches into two holes. You may not see this because of the fat on the heart. These
blood vessels (the pulmonary arteries) leave the right ventricle and lead to the
_________________________. (2 pts.)
4. Below the pulmonary arteries are two larger holes. They may be covered in fat where they
would be hard to see. These are the pulmonary veins. What part of the heart do the
pulmonary veins go into?
____________________________(2 pts.)
5. What part of your body is blood coming from to enter the pulmonary veins to go back into your
heart?
____________________________ (2 pts.)
6. Find the aorta. When you’re looking at back of the heart, it is the largest hole just above the
pulmonary artery. Stick your pinky finger into the aorta and see how far down it goes. Be
careful not to get your finger stuck. What chamber does blood come from to enter the aorta?
_______________ (2 pts.)
STOP FOR TODAY! You should NOT have cut open the heart!
1. Right Auricle
2. Right Ventricle
3. Brachiocephalic Artery (Oxygenated)
4. Aortic Arch (Oxygenated)
5. Pulmonary Artery (Deoxygenated)
6. Left Auricle
7. Interventricular Sulcus
8. Left Ventricle
Name ____________________________ Date _________________ Period _____ Score out of 25 _____
Corrected by __________________________
Sheep Heart Dissection
Procedure (Day 2) – you will be cutting the heart open today!
a. Review the outer part of the heart and make sure you know where these structures are: left and
right ventricle, left and right atrium, pulmonary artery, pulmonary veins, aorta, coronary artery,
apex, superior and inferior vena cava.
b. Locate the pulmonary artery. Put your scissors inside of it and cut through the front side of this
blood vessel and continue cutting down through the muscular wall of the right ventricle. This
diagonal cutting line should be above and parallel to the coronary artery. Remember the coronary
artery is embedded between the right and left ventricles. Stop cutting when you reach the end of
the cavity of the right ventricle.
c. You have now cut through the right ventricle. Notice at the beginning of the pulmonary artery you
will find a valve. This valve is called the pulmonary valve. Notice that the valve is arranged so
that blood can pass from the ventricle out into the pulmonary artery but not in the reverse direction.
d. Look inside the heart. In the upper left of the right ventricle, notice a flap of tissue made of 3
leaflets. This tissue is connected by a bunch of tendons. This is the tricuspid valve. The tricuspid
valve sends blood from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
1. Can blood go backwards from the right ventricle to the right atrium?
________________
e. Find the superior vena cava on the back side of the heart again. Cut from the superior vena cava
straight down about 3 cm. You will be cutting into the right atrium. Be careful not to cut into the
right ventricle.
f. Peek into the right atrium and notice the tricuspid valve (from the other side). Stick your finger
into the superior vena cava and through the tricuspid valve. Look through the opening in the right
ventricle that you made your first cut into.
g. Find the aorta again. Cut through the aorta until your reach the aortic valve.
2. This valve transports blood from the left ventricle into the
_____________________.
With your scissors you will be making a big cut here! Cut through the aorta and continue to cut
down through the thick muscular wall of the left ventricle.
3. Compare the thickness of the walls of the left and right ventricle. Which one has thicker walls?
________________________________________
4. Measure the thickness of the wall of the right ventricle in cm. _________________
5. Measure the thickness of the wall of the left ventricle in cm. _________________
h. At the base of the aorta, look at the aortic valve again.
i. Find the mitral valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle. Pass a finger or a probe
through it from the left ventricle. Your fingers will be in the left atrium at this point. Try to find the
openings of the pulmonary veins which open into the left atrium.
j. Quiz your partner on the interior and exterior anatomy of the heart.
k. Once you are confident that you know the structures, clean up your lab station. Make sure your
dissection tools are washed thoroughly and dried completely. Make sure the tray, kit, counter, sink,
and floor are free of heart tissue and fat.
6. _____ Clean-up – 2 points – if the teacher does not have to remind you what to do.
Points will be deducted if others have to clean your area up. ________
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FAQs

What are the main chambers of the sheep heart?
The sheep heart consists of four main chambers: the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle. The atria are the upper chambers that receive blood, while the ventricles are the lower chambers that pump blood out of the heart. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body, and the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs. Understanding these chambers is crucial for studying cardiovascular function.
What is the function of the heart valves?
Heart valves play a critical role in controlling blood flow through the heart. They prevent the backflow of blood, ensuring it moves in one direction during the cardiac cycle. The tricuspid valve is located between the right atrium and right ventricle, while the pulmonary valve is found at the exit of the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery. Similarly, the mitral valve and aortic valve regulate blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle and from the left ventricle to the aorta, respectively.
How does blood flow through the sheep heart?
Blood flow through the sheep heart follows a specific pathway. Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium from the body via the superior and inferior vena cavas. It then moves into the right ventricle, which pumps it through the pulmonary artery to the lungs for oxygenation. Oxygen-rich blood returns to the left atrium via the pulmonary veins, flows into the left ventricle, and is finally pumped out to the body through the aorta.
What materials are needed for the sheep heart dissection?
Essential materials for the sheep heart dissection include a sheep heart, dissecting tray, scissors or scalpel, tweezers, a probe, and a metric ruler. These tools allow students to carefully examine the heart's anatomy and perform the dissection safely. Proper preparation and handling of these materials are vital for an effective learning experience.
What are the differences between the right and left ventricles?
The right and left ventricles of the sheep heart have distinct structural differences related to their functions. The right ventricle has a thinner muscular wall because it only pumps blood to the lungs, while the left ventricle has a thicker wall to generate the higher pressure needed to pump blood throughout the entire body. This difference is crucial for understanding how the heart adapts to its various roles in circulation.
What is the significance of the coronary artery?
The coronary artery is vital as it supplies blood to the heart muscle itself, ensuring it receives the oxygen and nutrients necessary for proper function. Located on the surface of the heart, it branches off from the aorta and runs along the heart's surface. Understanding the role of the coronary artery is essential for studying heart health and conditions such as coronary artery disease.
What is the apex of the heart and its significance?
The apex of the heart is the pointed end of the heart, located at the bottom of the organ. It is significant because it is where the left ventricle extends, allowing for efficient pumping of blood into the aorta. The position of the apex is also important in clinical assessments, as it can be palpated to determine heart position and function.

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