Year 7 heart dissection
If you do not want to do the dissection that is fine.
Using an A3 sheet of paper create a heart diagram.
Grab each edge of the paper and fold them to the centre so they just touch. On the outside draw a heart and label the areas.
Open up the paper, and draw the inside of the heart. Again label the areas.
At the bottom of the page there are 11 questions to answer. Look through the other parts of the circulatory system on this site to answer the questions bellow, if you get stuck.
Before we cut into the heart we should take a look around it.
Things to notice
1. The Vena Cava
2. Aorta
3. Pulmonary Artery
4. Pulmonary vein
5. Amount of fat on the heart
6. Apex
Poke your finger through Aorta and Pulmonary artery. Notice how deep it goes. Now compare it to the vena cava and Pulmonary vein.
Begin the Cut
Before we start cutting make sure the heart’s apex is facing you and the aorta is facing away from you.
Identify the right and left sides of the heart
On the left side of the heart make a cut from the pulmonary vein down to the left ventricle.
The fat is quite tuff so you need to apply a bit of force.
Once you’ve cut through you should be able to see the left ventricle, bicuspid valve and left atrium.
Pull back the muscles too see them.
Notice the thickness of the walls and the apex on this side.
You can now place your finger through the aorta. Notice how it extends from the left ventricle to the aorta. This will link to the body.
Similarly to how you did the cut on the left side, now do it on the right side.
Make an cut on the right side.
From the vena cava down to the right ventricle.
Notice the tricuspid valve, the right ventricle and right atrium. Observe the thickness of the walls.
You can now place your finger through the pulmonary artery from the right ventricle.
This leads to the lungs.
Notice the different thickness of the aorta and pulmonary artery.
Once you have finished dissecting the heart and observing its features.
Place the dissecting tools back in the container
Wrap up the heart and place it in the animal disposal tray/bin
Wipe down your benches and ensure the dissecting area is clean.
Questions
1. Where dose the blood from the aorta travel.
2. Where does blood from the Vena Cava come from.
3. Once blood has left through the pulmonary artery, it enters what organ?
4. In your books draw a diagram of a heart and draw arrows representing the flow of blood, into and out of the heart.
5. Explain what de-
6. How is blood Oxygenated?
7. Why is there fat around the heart?
8. Why is the left side thicker than the right side?
9. What do the valves in the heart represent?
10. Explain the difference between the left and right side of the heart?
11. Why is the Aorta bigger than the pulmonary artery?