The Heart and Cardiovascular System

Focus Question: What are the parts of the heart? 

Procedure: in this dissection, incisions were made on the following dotted lines. The incisions were made under the right atrium and diagonally across under the left atrium. The bottom half was then cut in half so they were only the ventricles. The latex inside the heart was taken out using the teaser needles and scapels. 

Materials: For this dissection, scapels and teasers were used. 

Data/observation: 

The pulmonary veins and arteries are not shown in the picture below but they would be found in the yellow circled areas. 

Conclusion/reflection: Overall, I learned that the heart has many pieces to it. I thought it was cool how there was an atrium and ventricle for each side. I also thought that heart looked really cool when it was cut open.  I thought it was interesting that we needed to make a diagonal cut instead of a straight cut to separate the atria and the ventricles. I also thought it was interesting how our cat had a lot of blue dye in it's heart and very little pink. To answer the focus question, there are the superior and inferior vena cavas, left and right atria and ventricles, the aorta, and the four valves. 

Focus Question: What are the blood vessels of the cardiovascular system? 

Procedure: For this dissection, we cut through the mesh like covering over the intestines. Then we lifted the intestines and cleared up some areas in order to find some arteries and veins. 

Materials: For this dissection, scapels and teaser needles were used. 

Data/observation:

The picture above is missing the internal jugular vein, subclavian vein, the external carotid artery, the vertebral artery, the radial artery, the ulnar artery, and the axillary vein. 

Conclusion/reflection: Overall, I learned that the arteries and veins are named after regions of the body that they supply blood to. I thought that some of them were really difficult to find while others were super easy. I thought that this dissection was really cool because many other organs were identified in order to find certain vessels.