Caroited Arteries

Carotid Arteries: Supplies blood to the neck and face from the top of the heart. Can be found in the neck and behind the larynx.

Pericardium

Pericardium: is a membrane like the pleura. The pericardium consists of two parts; the visceral pericardium is the thin and shiny membrane that is on the surface of the heart, and the parietal pericardium is the thicker membrane.

Vena Cava

Anterior vena cava: locate the trunk of this systemic vein above the heart. In the pig the term anterior vena cava is more correct and therefore preferred to superior vena cava. All anterior veins lead into it.

Posterior vena cava: This is the major vein returning blood from the lower extremities and from the abdominal area. Again, this designation in the pig is preferred to inferior vena cava. It can clearly be seen rising from the diaphragm, which it has penetrated, to enter the heart at the right atrium together with the superior vena cave.

Anterior to the heart, you can locate a large vein that enters the right atrium. This vein is the anterior vena cava, which brings blood to the right atrium from the anterior part of the body. Now lift the heart to view its dorsal surface. To do this you must use your scissors to carefully cute through all the major arteries attaching the heart to the mediastinum and then removing the heart with your hands to observe the posterior vena cava that carries blood from the posterior part of the body and empties it into the right atrium.

Mediastinum

Mediastinum: The mediastinum is a structure in the thorax, surrounded by loose connective tissue. It is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity. It contains the heart, the great vessels of the heart, esophagus, trachea, phrenic nerve, cardiac nerve, thoracic duct, thymus, and lymph nodes of the central chest. The mediastinum lies between the right and left pleura in and near the median sagittal plane of the chest. It extends from the sternum in front to the vertebral column behind.

Coronary Vessels

Coronary Vessels: The vessels on the heart that supply blood to the heart muscle. The vessels are found in the interventricular groove and this groove shows the split between the right and left ventricle.

Ventricles and Atria

Remove the pericardium, which is a thin membrane that surrounds the heart, with a blunt probe to expose the structure of the heart more closely. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs, while the left side of the heart pumps blood to all other parts of the body. Locate the right and left sides of the heart. The structures visible on the heart are the two atria, the ventricle which have two chambers. Each side of the heart has an upper and a lower chamber. Upper chambers are called atria and receive blood, while lower chambers are called ventricles and pump blood out of the heart. You can easily locate the right and left atria and ventricle by looking at the heart.

Atria

Atria: The heart is divided into four chambers that are connected by heart valves. The upper two heart chambers are called atria. Atria are separated by an interatrial septum into the left atrium and the right atrium. The lower two chambers of the heart are called ventricles. Atria receive blood returning to the heart from the body and ventricles pump blood from the heart to the body. The heart is located between the lungs an under the sternum and is protected by the rib cage.