1 Circulatory System

Topic: Dissection of mammalian circulatory system

Purpose:
1. To follow instruction correctly so that the thoracic area can be displayed to
maximum advantage.
2. To identify the organs the in the thoracic cavity.
3. To identify the position of the main blood vessel (veins and arteries) and their
branches.
4. To produce labelled drawings from the display.
5. To state the scale of drawing accurately.

Theory:
The circulatory system is a transport system that carries things to and from different
places in the body. Mammalian circulatory system is a double circulation. That
means the blood passes through the heart twice as it goes once round the body. The
right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs to collect oxygen and get rid of
carbon dioxide. The left side of the heart pumps blood to the rest of the body to
supply cells with oxygen and pick up of carbon dioxide and other waste.

Apparatus: Dissecting instruments, Dissecting board, Pin
Material: Rat, Cotton, Chloroform, Glove







2 Circulatory System

Procedure:
1. The rat is pinned to the dissecting board with the ventral surface uppermost.
2. Mid-ventral incision through the skin was made and the skin towards the
mouth and then towards the posterior was cut.
3. Using fingers or scalpel, the skin from the underlying body wall was free. The
skin was pinned back.
4. The body wall in the abdominal region of animal was opened up.
5. The xiphoid cartilage pulled downward and fixed its position with the thread;
pulled back and pinned to the dissecting board in between legs.
6. Made an incision by cutting a little interior into the diaphragm, into the thoracic
cavity using scissors. The sidewall down towards the dorsal surface were
continue cut. Take care not to cut too far down.
7. The sidewalls towards the thoracic apex were continuing cut. The ribs,
intercostals muscles, and pectoral were cut. (Make sure that the tip of the
scissors is always pointing upwards to avoid damaging the internal organs).
8. Lift up the whole ventral thoracic wall, once the thoracic wall is free.
9. The ventral thoracic wall was removed by cutting the tissue near the apex.
10. The cut pectoral muscles were lift up. The muscles were separated carefully
from the thoracic wall without damaging the underlying veins. Able to see the
clavicle, once the deeper muscles have been removed.
11. The neck muscles were cut and removed to expose the trachea and larynx.
12. The thymus gland and superfluous fat are removed from the displayed
section.
13. The heart and lungs were pushed and pinned to the right side of the animal.
the veins
14. On only the left or the right side of the animal were examined and identified.
15. A large labelled drawing was made to show the veins in the thoracic region of
the animal. The scale of the drawing was stated.



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16. The arteries on both sides of the thorax were examined and identified. A large
labelled drawing was made to the display the arteries on the both side of the
thorax










4 Circulatory System


17. The anterior off the larynx were cut. The cut end of the larynx was hold using
forceps and then, the larynx and trachea from the tissues underlying it were
loosed by cutting off some the connective tissues where necessary. The main
blood vessels, which pass through the diaphragm was determined and the
vessels at the region near the anterior diaphragm was cut. The heart, lungs,
trachea, and main blood vessel were removed together.

18. Each lung was removed by cutting the pulmonary arteries and veins. Cut
nearest to the lungs so that the maximum length of each blood vessel can be
displayed.

19. A dorsal view of the heart drew with its blood vessels attached to it.

















5 Circulatory System

Discussion:
Flow of blood inside the Heart
1. Heart is divided into two sides. The right side pumps blood to lungs where it
picks up oxygen. The left side pumps oxygen-soaked blood out to body.

2. Blood from the posterior portion of the body enters the right atrium of the heart
through the inferior vena cava which referred to as the caudal vena cava.

3. Blood from the anterior parts of the rat enter the heart from the right and left
superior vena cava, also known as the cranial vena cava.

4. Blood flows from the right atrium to the right ventricle via the tricuspid valve.

5. Blood is then pumped through the pulmonary semi lunar valve and into the
pulmonary trunk, which divides into the left and right pulmonary arteries -
these are the only arteries in the body that carry deoxygenated blood.

6. Blood then flows through the pulmonary arteries to the lungs where it is
oxygenated and then returns from the lungs to enter the left atrium via four
pulmonary veins.


Trace the Branches of the Aortic Arch and the Descending Aorta

1. Coronary arteries are located on top of the heart and supply the heart itself
with blood.

2. The first visible branch from the aorta is the brachiocephalic artery; it divides
into the right common carotid artery, which supplies the right side of the neck,
and the right subclavian artery, which supplies the right shoulder and arms.

3. At the most anterior part of the bend in the aortic arch is the left common
carotid artery, which supplies blood up the left side of the neck.

4. Immediately to the left of the left common carotid artery is the left subclavian
artery, which supplies blood to the left shoulder and arm.





6 Circulatory System

Trace the Branches of the Thoracic Arteries
1. Blood leaves the left ventricle of the heart through the aortic semilunar valve
and enters the aorta. The aorta has four general areas

2. Ascending aorta - begins at the semilunar valve of the left ventricle and
passes outside and over the left and right atrial.

3. Aortic arch - the place where the aorta bends to the left.

4. Descending aorta - after the bend, the aorta can be traced toward the
diaphragm.

5. Abdominal aorta- the aorta passes through the diaphragm and supplies blood
to the lower extremities and organs

Trace the Systemic Veins
1. The left and right superior vena cava conduct blood from the upper part of the
body into the right atrium. Trace these veins from the atrium until you find the
small internal jugular vein and continues as the subclavian vein.

2. The subclavian vein divies into the external jugular vein and the auxiliary
vein.

3. The inferior vena cava carries blood from the lower part of the body to the
right atrium. The hepatic vein drains the liver and enters the inferior vena cava
near the diaphragm.

4. Renal veins drain the kidneys.Genital veins lead from the gonads and enter
the inferior vena cava. The iliac and femoral veins drain the legs. The caudal
vein drains the tail.



7 Circulatory System

The Hepatic Portal System
1. A portal system is a system of veins that carries blood from one bed of
capillaries to another bed of capillaries.

2. The hepatic portal system carries blood from the mesenteries, small intestine,
spleen, somach and pancres to the liver. Specifically, the gastic, splenic, and
mesenteric veins drain the digestive system and unit to form the hepatic portal
vein which carries the blood to the liver.

3. The liver is strategically located to receive blood after nutrients have been
absorbed in the intestinal tract. The liver cells can easily modify these
nutrients and remove toxins.

Conclusion:
The Circulatory system is an organ system that transports things around the body
that are needed by cells. When Blood circulates around the body, it leaves the left
ventricle of the Heart and travels to the Aorta (The largest artery in the Human body).
The blood that leaves the Aorta is rich of oxygen then travels around the body in
arteries, and to the organs. When the deoxygenated blood travels back to the lungs
through a system of Veins, As it reaches the lungs, the carbon dioxide (a waste
product) is removed from the blood and replaced with fresh oxygen that is inhaled
through the lungs. The Body is made up of vessels and muscle to help control the
flow of blood around the body