The dissected sheep heart is a great way to learn about mammalian anatomy. Here are the main parts that should be labeled:
- Atria: These are the upper chambers of the heart. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body, while the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.
- Ventricles: The lower chambers, including the right ventricle which pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs, and the left ventricle which pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.
- Aorta: This is the large artery that carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body.
- Pulmonary Arteries: These transport deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
- Pulmonary Veins: These veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the left atrium.
- Septum: This is the wall that separates the left and right sides of the heart.
- Valves: Including the tricuspid valve (between the right atrium and ventricle), the pulmonary valve (between the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries), the mitral valve (between the left atrium and ventricle), and the aortic valve (between the left ventricle and aorta).
Understanding these parts is crucial for grasping how the heart functions in pumping blood and maintaining circulation throughout the body. When labeling a dissected sheep heart, it is important to identify these components as they showcase the heart’s structure and how it works to facilitate life in mammals.