Anatomy
Lab Report 19: Heart Dissection
Name:
Date:
Adapted from jtcc.edu
Lab Materials
Online access
Computer (with PowerPoint software)
Camera (could be your phone)
Carolina Lab Manual – Mammalian Heart Dissection
Kit – Sheep Heart, Dissection Tools
Small piece of paper with your name
Personal protective equipment:
Goggles
Gloves
Lab apron
Safety Instructions:
Students must abide by the safety instructions in the Biology Lab Safety Contract
Safety Equipment & Instructions
Adapted from jtcc.edu
Lab Introduction
The mammalian heart is double pump with 4 chambers.
Make sure you understand anterior & posterior; there’s a quick video on how to figure that out in the Canvas assignment page.
But here’s the short version – look for the puppy dog ears (auricles). They both point towards the anterior aspect.
If you have a nearly perfect horizontal line across the heart that is visible, you are most likely looking at the posterior aspect.
The best way to find the valves, vena cavae, pulmonary trunk and aorta is to find the chamber of the heart and then use your gloved finger or probe to find the passageway to/from that chamber.
If you run into trouble, stop what you are doing, and email me (hoganj@centralvirginia.edu).
You can put your sheep heart in a ziplock bag and save it for later.
Adapted from jtcc.edu
General Lab Instructions
Readable Labels
Typed (not handwritten)
Use appropriate font size (24 or 26)
Reading frame is left-to-right, with horizontal, right-side-up textboxes
Use appropriate line weight for arrows, brackets, etc (4.5 or 6); do not use block arrows (please & thank you)
Contrasting Colors
Arrows and brackets should be of a high contrast color that is easily seen against the background.
Labels on the Slide, not off to the side; use the neutral spaces for textboxes.
Arrow in the Middle of the structure, not between structures
Photos should be sized proportionally
Use Lock Aspect Ratio
Resize using the corners, not the sides
No Criss-Cross
Arrows should not overlap
Photos from the Google Album (where applicable) should be oriented as they are in the album.
The completed lab needs to be submitted in Canvas upon completion in PowerPoint format (pptx) or as a pdf. If you are using a different program, you can Save As or Export As pptx or pdf file from the File Menu.
Adapted from jtcc.edu
4
Specific Lab Instructions
Your heart has been vacuum-packed; it will be a little smooshed. Don’t panic. It’s OK. As you work with it, it will loosen up, but also, everyone’s heart will be a little smooshed.
The solution preserving your heart is NOT formaldehyde. It’s a proprietary formula called Carolina Perfect Solution. It is safe for you to handle. It still stinks, but you can rinse the heart in the sink as your work with it.
Take the time to read over the background information in the Carolina Lab Manual.
Take the time to make sure you understand each step in the instructions in the Carolina Lab Manual.
You may find it helpful to highlight each specific step.
You may find it helpful to take a few notes.
Take nice, clear, well-lit photos. Instagram-worthy! Look over the lab report to make sure you have a good picture of each view of the heart.
Insert photos in the anatomical position, meaning that the superior aspect of the heart is towards the top of the slide.
Include a small piece of paper with your name on it in each photo.
Adapted from jtcc.edu
Specimen is too small, move camera closer or crop out the background and enlarge.
Appropriate, specimen is the largest object in the field of view
Sample
Adapted from jtcc.edu
Photo 1. Whole Heart (anterior), part 1
Take a picture of the heart prior to cutting, showing the anterior aspect.
Label: apex, base, right auricle, and left auricle.
Use textboxes and arrows
Include the small piece of paper in the frame with your name to get credit for your photography
Adapted from jtcc.edu
If you can’t see both of the auricles in one photo, you can take 2 photos and add a new slide after this one.
Photo 2: Whole Heart (anterior), part 2
Take a picture of the heart prior to cutting, showing the anterior aspect.
Label: anterior interventricular sulcus, right ventricle, and left ventricle.
Use textboxes and arrows.
Include the small piece of paper in the frame with your name to get credit for your photography
Adapted from jtcc.edu
Photo 3: Frontal Section of Heart, part 1
Cut away the anterior half of the heart and take a picture of the posterior half.
Label: left atrium, right ventricle, left ventricle, interventricular septum.
Use textboxes and arrows.
Include the small piece of paper in the frame with your name to get credit for your photography
Adapted from jtcc.edu
If you did not get a perfect coronal section that shows all of these features in one photo, you can take 2 photos and add a new slide after this one. But ideally…
RA
RV
LA
LV
10
Photo 4: Frontal Section of Heart, part 2
Label: right atrioventricular valve, left atrioventricular valve, chordae tendinae, papillary muscle.
Use textboxes and arrows.
Include the small piece of paper in the frame with your name to get credit for your photography
Adapted from jtcc.edu
If you did not get a perfect coronal section that shows all of these features in one photo, you can take 2 photos and add a new slide after this one.
Also, if you need to use the anterior half, to show a feature, use it, but indicate that it’s anterior with a textbox
Photo 5: Frontal Section of Heart, part 3
Label: aorta, endocardium, myocardium, epicardium.
Use textboxes and arrows
Include the small piece of paper in the frame with your name to get credit for your photography
Adapted from jtcc.edu
If you did not get a perfect coronal section that shows all of these features in one photo, you can take 2 photos and add a new slide after this one.
Also, if you need to use the anterior half, to show a feature, use it, but indicate that it’s anterior with a textbox
Photo 6: Frontal Section of Heart, part 4
Label: right atrium, aortic valve
Use textboxes and arrows
Include the small piece of paper in the frame with your name to get credit for your photography
Adapted from jtcc.edu
If you did not get a perfect coronal section that shows all of these features in one photo, you can take 2 photos and add a new slide after this one.
Also, if you need to use the anterior half, to show a feature, use it, but indicate that it’s anterior with a textbox
Photo 6: Frontal Section of Heart, part 5
Label: pulmonary trunk, pulmonary valve
Use textboxes and arrows
Include the small piece of paper in the frame with your name to get credit for your photography
Adapted from jtcc.edu
If you did not get a perfect coronal section that shows all of these features in one photo, you can take 2 photos and add a new slide after this one.
Also, if you need to use the anterior half, to show a feature, use it, but indicate that it’s anterior with a textbox