My Heart Bleeds for You: Heart Anatomy Dissection

Using a pig heart, students will observe the major chambers, valves, and vessels of the heart and be able to describe the circulation of blood through the heart to the lungs and back and out to the rest of the body. (The pig heart is used because it is very similar to the human heart in structure, size, & function.) This class will examine the inner workings of the heart and what makes it work. Each student will work in teams of two and have their own porcine heart to dissect. The heart dissection is probably one of the most difficult dissections you will do. Part of the reason it is so difficult to learn is that the heart is not perfectly symmetrical, but it is so close that it becomes difficult to discern which side you are looking at (dorsal, ventral, left or right.) The heart is also difficult because the fatty tissue that surrounds the heart can obscure the openings to the vessels. This means that you really must experience the heart with your hands and feel your way to find the openings. Following the normal blood flow, we will dissect the heart to examine the different valves, muscle structures, coronary arteries, as well as discuss the various problems that can afflict each of these. You will also have the opportunity to perform a cardiac catherization with a stent on your anatomical model.

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