Solved Sheep Heart Dissection Lab Tease label the diagram of ... - Free Printable

Let’s go through each question one by one, step by step.

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Question 1: How can you tell which side of the heart is the anterior surface and which side is the posterior surface?

The student wrote: “by looking inside and finding the right ventricle and left atrium” — but that’s not quite right for telling front (anterior) from back (posterior).

Actually, in a real heart or diagram:

- The anterior surface (front) usually shows more of the right ventricle and part of the left ventricle. It’s the side that faces forward when the heart is in the body.
- The posterior surface (back) has more of the left atrium and some of the right atrium. This side faces toward the spine.

But here’s an easier way to think about it in diagrams like this one:

→ Look at where the big vessels come out. The aorta and pulmonary artery come out the top-front — so if those are visible on top, you’re likely looking at the anterior view.

Also, in many textbook diagrams, the right ventricle is shown prominently on the front — because it wraps around the left ventricle from the front.

So better answer:
You can tell the anterior surface because it mostly shows the right ventricle and the left ventricle, with the major arteries (like the aorta) coming out the top. The posterior surface would show more of the atria (especially the left atrium) and the veins entering them.

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Question 2: How many chambers are found in the mammalian heart? List these chambers in the order in which blood flows through them.

Student wrote: “4 chambers” — correct!

Now, list them in order of blood flow:

Blood enters the heart → goes to lungs → comes back → gets pumped out to body.

Step-by-step flow:

1. Blood returns from body → enters Right Atrium
2. Then flows into Right Ventricle
3. Pumped to lungs via pulmonary artery
4. Returns from lungs → enters Left Atrium
5. Flows into Left Ventricle
6. Pumped out to body via aorta

So the 4 chambers in order of blood flow:

→ Right Atrium → Right Ventricle → Left Atrium → Left Ventricle

*(Note: Even though blood goes to lungs between right ventricle and left atrium, we still list the chambers in the order they receive blood.)*

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Question 3: Which chambers are the pumping chambers of the heart?

Pumping means pushing blood OUT of the heart — either to the lungs or to the whole body.

That’s done by the ventricles.

- Right ventricle pumps blood to lungs
- Left ventricle pumps blood to entire body

Atria just collect blood and pass it down — they don’t do heavy pumping.

✔ Answer: Right Ventricle and Left Ventricle

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Question 4: Which chambers are the receiving chambers of the heart?

Receiving = collecting blood coming INTO the heart.

That’s the atria.

- Right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from body (via vena cavae)
- Left atrium receives oxygenated blood from lungs (via pulmonary veins)

✔ Answer: Right Atrium and Left Atrium

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Question T: From where in the body does the blood entering the superior vena cava come? Inferior vena cava?

These are the two big veins that bring blood back to the heart.

- Superior vena cava: brings blood from the upper half of the body — head, neck, arms, chest.
- Inferior vena cava: brings blood from the lower half of the body — abdomen, legs, pelvis.

Think: “superior” = above, “inferior” = below.

✔ Answer:
- Superior vena cava → upper body (head, neck, arms, chest)
- Inferior vena cava → lower body (abdomen, legs, pelvis)

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Final Answer:

1. You can tell the anterior surface because it mostly shows the right ventricle and left ventricle, with major arteries coming out the top. The posterior surface shows more of the atria, especially the left atrium.

2. There are 4 chambers. In order of blood flow: Right Atrium → Right Ventricle → Left Atrium → Left Ventricle.

3. The pumping chambers are the Right Ventricle and Left Ventricle.

4. The receiving chambers are the Right Atrium and Left Atrium.

T. Blood entering the superior vena cava comes from the upper body (head, neck, arms, chest). Blood entering the inferior vena cava comes from the lower body (abdomen, legs, pelvis).