Cardiovascular Lab1

In this lab you will investigate some of the cardiovascular anatomy.

Begin by clicking on the following:

    Cardiovascular System-superior

Here you will see the cardiovascular system including the heart and arteries. The veins are not seen to help simplify the view.

First you will focus on the heart. Notice how the heart is wider at the top (superior) and narrower at the bottom (inferior). The top portion of the heart is known as the base of the heart. The lower, narrower portion is called the apex.

The heart consists of 4 chambers. These are the right and left atria and right and left ventricles. The heart is surrounded by a set of membranes called the pericardium. There is an outer parietal pericardium and an inner visceral pericardium. There is fluid between these 2 layers. The heart itself consists of 3 layers. The outer layer is called the epicardium and is the same layer as the visceral pericardium. Deep to this is the thick muscular myocardium that contains cardiac muscle. The deepest layer is the endocardium. The heart is also surrounded by a layer of fat.

Dissect away the following:

    Subepicardial fat of the heart

    Epicardium

    Transverse pericardial sinus

You should now be able to locate the following:

    Myocardium of the right ventricle--this forms the wall of the right ventricle.

    Anterior Interventricular Branch of the left coronary artery--this is a branch of the left coronary artery that supplies the ventricles with oxygenated blood. It separates the right and left ventricles.

    Right coronary artery--this is the other coronary artery. Blockages in coronary arteries can cause heart attacks.

    Myocardium--this is the myocardium of the left ventricle.

    Myocardium of the right atrium

    Ascending Aorta--this carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body.

    Pulmonary Trunk--this carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.

    Left Pulmonary Artery--is a continuation of the pulmonary trunk. The trunk splits into right and left pulmonary arteries (one for each lung).

    Right Pulmonary Artery

    Superior Vena Cava--carries deoxygenated blood to the right atrium.

    Inferior Vena Cava--also carries deoxygenated blood to the right atrium.

Reorient the image by clicking on the following:

    Lateral view of heart

Locate the left atrium. The pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood to the left atrium.

Locate the aortic arch--notice that it has 3 superior branches.

Follow the aorta inferiorly by locating the thoracic aorta. Notice how the thoracic aorta becomes the abdominal aorta. This occurs when it passes through the diaphragm.

Rotate the image to 180 degrees.

Observe the connection between the inferior vena cava and right atrium.

This concludes the lab.