Loyola University Medical Education Network Step 3 -
Dissection of the Heart

  1. To view the internal structure of the heart, first open the right atrium by making an incision to the right of the atrioventricular sulcus then transversly to the point of entry of the inferior vena cava. Locate structures such as the fossa ovalis and musculi pectinati shown in this dissection.

  2. Next open the right ventricle by making an incision from the pulmonary trunk inferiorly along the right border of the interventricular septum then transversely to the right along the inferior (acute) margin of the heart as shown on the model. Opening this flap reveals the contents of the right ventricle. Compare your dissection with a model. You should identify each of the tricuspid valves, papillary muscles with their chorda tendinae, the moderator band, and trabeculae carne.


John A. McNulty, Ph.D.
Updated: Sep 30, 2008
Created: Jan 11, 1997