THE SHEEP HEART LAB
ANATOMY OF THE SHEEP HEART
Obtain a sheep heart and locate the major structures of the sheep heart listed below.
Place labeled pins in the structures and take a picture. Upload pictures of the labeled
sheep heart with your lab. (30 points)
Once you have labeled each structure on the models, label them on the pictures in this
lab. (1 point each)
As you locate the structures, answer the questions that follow them. (3 points each)
EXTERNAL STRUCTURES
Interventricular Sulcus
On the anterior side of the heart, you will see a diagonal line dividing the heart. This
structure divides the heart into left and right sides.
Apex of Heart
The inferior pointed end of the heart is the apex of the heart.
1. What chamber makes up the apex of the heart?
Base of the Heart
The superior portion of the heart containing the atria.
2. What vessels are found at the base of the heart?
Right Auricle
Find the dark ear-like structures on top of the heart.
3. What chamber does the right auricle cover?
Left Auricle
Find the dark ear-like structures on top of the heart.
4. What chamber does the left auricle cover?
VESSELS
Pulmonary Trunk
The vessel seen anteriorly on the heart, to the side of the left auricle, is the pulmonary
trunk.
5. What chamber does the pulmonary trunk leave?
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, Aorta
Just behind the pulmonary trunk, is the aorta.
Superior Vena Cava
Look at the back of the heart. Find the opening next to the right auricle. This is the
superior vena cava.
6. What type of blood does the superior vena cava carry?
Pulmonary Veins (L&R) (may not be seen on your sheep heart)
Locate another opening on the back side of the heart. The opening is on the left side of
the heart and is the pulmonary vein. There may be more than one opening. These
vessels are coming from the lungs.
7. To what chamber of the heart do the pulmonary veins deliver blood?
INTERNAL STRUCTURES
Use a scalpel to make a coronal cut in the heart from the apex to the base of the heart.
This will divide the heart into anterior and posterior halves.
LAYERS
Locate and label the layers of the heart.
Epicardium
Myocardium
Endocardium
8. Which of these is the thickest layer of the heart?
9. Internally, how can you identify the right side of the heart from the left side of the
heart? (Specifically, look at the layers of the heart surrounding the left ventricle).
CHAMBERS
Now that you have identified the right from the left side of the heart, locate the following
chambers.
Right Atrium
Right Ventricle
Left Atrium
Left Ventricle
10. Why is the heart muscle in the left ventricle thicker than the right ventricle?
This study source was downloaded by 100000901307859 from CourseHero.com on 11-14-2025 08:17:34 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/251236178/BIO-211-Sheep-Heart-Anatomy-Lab-SP2024docx/
ANATOMY OF THE SHEEP HEART
Obtain a sheep heart and locate the major structures of the sheep heart listed below.
Place labeled pins in the structures and take a picture. Upload pictures of the labeled
sheep heart with your lab. (30 points)
Once you have labeled each structure on the models, label them on the pictures in this
lab. (1 point each)
As you locate the structures, answer the questions that follow them. (3 points each)
EXTERNAL STRUCTURES
Interventricular Sulcus
On the anterior side of the heart, you will see a diagonal line dividing the heart. This
structure divides the heart into left and right sides.
Apex of Heart
The inferior pointed end of the heart is the apex of the heart.
1. What chamber makes up the apex of the heart?
Base of the Heart
The superior portion of the heart containing the atria.
2. What vessels are found at the base of the heart?
Right Auricle
Find the dark ear-like structures on top of the heart.
3. What chamber does the right auricle cover?
Left Auricle
Find the dark ear-like structures on top of the heart.
4. What chamber does the left auricle cover?
VESSELS
Pulmonary Trunk
The vessel seen anteriorly on the heart, to the side of the left auricle, is the pulmonary
trunk.
5. What chamber does the pulmonary trunk leave?
This study source was downloaded by 100000901307859 from CourseHero.com on 11-14-2025 08:17:34 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/251236178/BIO-211-Sheep-Heart-Anatomy-Lab-SP2024docx/
, Aorta
Just behind the pulmonary trunk, is the aorta.
Superior Vena Cava
Look at the back of the heart. Find the opening next to the right auricle. This is the
superior vena cava.
6. What type of blood does the superior vena cava carry?
Pulmonary Veins (L&R) (may not be seen on your sheep heart)
Locate another opening on the back side of the heart. The opening is on the left side of
the heart and is the pulmonary vein. There may be more than one opening. These
vessels are coming from the lungs.
7. To what chamber of the heart do the pulmonary veins deliver blood?
INTERNAL STRUCTURES
Use a scalpel to make a coronal cut in the heart from the apex to the base of the heart.
This will divide the heart into anterior and posterior halves.
LAYERS
Locate and label the layers of the heart.
Epicardium
Myocardium
Endocardium
8. Which of these is the thickest layer of the heart?
9. Internally, how can you identify the right side of the heart from the left side of the
heart? (Specifically, look at the layers of the heart surrounding the left ventricle).
CHAMBERS
Now that you have identified the right from the left side of the heart, locate the following
chambers.
Right Atrium
Right Ventricle
Left Atrium
Left Ventricle
10. Why is the heart muscle in the left ventricle thicker than the right ventricle?
This study source was downloaded by 100000901307859 from CourseHero.com on 11-14-2025 08:17:34 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/251236178/BIO-211-Sheep-Heart-Anatomy-Lab-SP2024docx/
