Title: Dig Down Deeper

Statement of Problem:
The purpose of this experiment is to identify the parts of the mammalian heart and try to
determine their function within the system. We will be able to determine the internal and external
structure of the sheeps heart if we examine and identify the parts by dissection. The heart is a
cardiac muscle that pumps oxygenated blood and nutrients throughout the whole body. The heart
is separated into two parts the right side which is pulmonary and the left side which is
systematic, these two halves are separated by the septum. The heart spreads blood and oxygen
throughout the whole body by the cardiac cycle which includes the four most important valves.
Hypothesis:
If I dissect and examine a sheeps heart then I will be able to determine the parts of the cardiac
muscle and determine their functions within the heart.
Materials:
goggles
gloves
tissue paper
a sheeps heart(preferably without blood)
dissecting tray
pair of scissors
scalpel
couple of pins
tweezers
phone or camera( to take pictures)
Procedure:
I gathered all materials needed for the experiment in and placed them all in one workstation.
Then started by taking the heart of course with my gloves on and placing it on the dissecting
tray. Before I started cutting we squeezed the heart a little to find the right spot to start the
dissection. I followed step by step directions and cut the heart open with the ventricle facing up
and cut it right down the middle. Then I started to cut at other sides of the heart so I can locate
the veins and the different arteries. It was important not to cut too deep in order not to cut
through any small or unseen veins. If a place was reached when it was all muscle then I cut
through the muscle to keep the search going. One I found major parts of the heart I took pictures
of them.
1. The first thing is to receive and put on goggles and secure them while handling the
materials. The goggles must be kept on for the entire lab.
2. Clear the workstation of anything and combine desks if needed to.
3. Get all materials listed above into one area to make it easier to receive.
4. Then securely put the gloves on both hands and make sure to keep them on for the entire
lab.
5. Grab the heart and place it on the dissecting tray, examine the heart while also revolving
it around to locate the best part to cut it. Also try squeezing the heart a little to locate the
veins.
6. Try to locate the right and left atrium once that is found cut right down the middle in
between them. Try to cut with a scalpel hard but not to deep so nothing inside gets
damaged.
7. Once the heart opens half check to see if any parts can be located, at this point the
inferior and superior vena cavae and should be spotted.
8. The heart should be examine for at least two to three minutes to thoroughly search the
half of the heart that was just opened.
9. If these two parts are not spotted try cutting off some muscle meat with either the scissors
or scalpel, they should be dried up and still be careful to not.
10. Once the venae cavae is found, turn the heart over an try to locate the pulmonary veins,
then cut open with a scalpel.
11. Once this side of the heart is opened then use the scissors to check to see if blood vessels
and veins can be found.
12. At this point the pulmonary veins, arteries, and vena cavea should be found and pictures
should be taken as each part is found.
13. At this point my group and I cut four lines down the heart using a scalpel and easily the
heart was opened downwards so everything was in view, except for the parts covered in
muscle.
14. These four lines were cut from the pulmonary artery to the wall of the right atrium, the
flap was then pinned down to the try with a pin. To make it easier to view that section of
the heart.
15. The second line that was cut was from the left atrium to the left ventricle, this flap was
then pinned down to with a pin to examine this section.