Pig Heart Dissection

Barliso, Angela
Camarillo, Jessalyn
Dabon, Harvey
Delfin, Ann Marie
Espaol, Jenny Marie
Labrado, Luzvilla Marie
Lempio, Mariejayn
Llames, Maria Angela Lariz
Salih-Donadillo, Maria Josefa
Yaun, Irine
Osmea Blvd., Cebu City

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the four chambers of the
mammalian heart in person. A pig was chosen as the representative
organism for this activity because of its similarity to the human heart in
terms of morphology and physiology, and with this similarity, the description
of the blood circulation is attained. The dissection its heart was done with a
scalpel. It was first sliced through its sagittal region and it was sliced further
through its anterior and posterior regions. The four (4) chambers of the heart
were exposed.

Keywords
Pig- A chordate in the genus sus, an even-toed ungulate.
Morphology- Form
Physiology- Function
Sagittal region- An anatomical plane which divides the body into left
and right halves.
Anterior region- Near to the head.
Posterior region- Near to the rear.

Introduction requires complete anatomical

Mammalian, Avian, and Crocodilian
hearts are muscular organs that
contain the nonstriated,
mononucleated cardiac muscles
and they also contain four (4)
chambers. The right portion of their
hearts receives deoxygenated
blood (right atrium) and sends
deoxygenated blood to the lungs
for pulmonary circulation (right
ventricle). On the other hand, the
left portion of the blood receives
oxygenated blood (left etrium) and
sends it to the body (left ventricle)
(Raven, 2003). This process
separation of the cardiac chambers
so that blood cant be sent back to
the lungs with the same pressure
sent to the tissues (Kardong, 2013).
Methods
1. Laboratory gown and face
mask were put on prior to
any laboratory activity.
2. Dissecting set was prepared
(dissecting pan, scalpel,
andpins).
3. Using gloves, the heart of the
pig was retrieved and was
put on the dissecting pan.
 4. The pig heart was recorded
and observed prior to
dissection.
5. The heart was sliced through
its sagittal section to reveal
its four chambers
6. The anterior region was cut
through as well as its
posterior region.
7. The chambers were opened
to reveal innermost parts.
8. Pictures were taken
throughout the dissection
process.
Results and Discussions

At the beginning of this
experiment, a fully labeled diagram
was perceived in the book to have
a guide in locating the structures of
the heart.The texture of heart was
elastic and smooth. The heart was
cut into two parts separating the
right and left parts using a scalpel.
The arteries, such as, the coronary
artery and pulmonary artery were
easily seen. The internal of the
heart was light red color and was
muscular, it also contains fibers
and muscular walls. There were
several pieces of dark red dried
blood inside the heart, they were
almost like black jelly as they were
frozen blood, but were removed
immediately to move on to the
procedure.
The heart was opened at the
cut with fingers, and the internal
structure was examined.The
ventricles were located, and the
left chambers (ventricle and
atrium) were much bigger than the
right side. The chordae tendineae
were delicate but elastic.The aorta
was smooth and delicate, it was
easy to cut through. The
interventricular septum was thick
and it divided the right and left
chambers of the heart.
Additionally, the heart which was
used to observe was still fresh and
it influenced the color and the state
of the muscles.
A fully labeled diagram and a
detailed translation of the
procedure were prepared before
the experiment, so that a clear
understanding and the processes
and the heart's structure, was
achieved.
Conclusions
In conclusion, this laboratory
accentuated and illustrated the
external and the internal structures
of a pigs heart, the functions of
every important part were
mentioned in the introduction, and
the labeled diagrams were shown
in the results. As we dissected the
pig heart, we conclude that the
pigs heart was very similar to
humans in terms of morphology
and physiology when it comes to
circulating blood.
Bibliography
Johnson, G., & Raven, P. (2003). Biology. New York City, New York: The
McGraw-hill Companies, Inc.
Kardong, K. (2013). Vertebrates: Comparative Anatomy, Function,
Evolution. New York City, New York: The McGraw-hill Companies, Inc.