Keep the heart in the tray in such a way that a large arch like tube faces
upwards. This is the ventral side.
Now take a sharp blade or scalpel and open the heart in such a way that
the chambers are exposed. Take the help of the fig-5
Now observe the internal structure. Observe the wall of the heart.
Is the thickness of the wall of the heart uniform throughout?
How many chambers are there in the heart?
Are all the chambers of the same size?
What other differences could you observe between the chambers?
Do you find any specific observation in between two chambers?
Are all the chambers connected to each other?
How are they connected to each other? How are they separated?
You can observe white coloured structures in the lower part of the heart. Note down the size, shape and to which parts they are attached. Can you guess the function of these structures?
Write a note on your observations of the heart. Compare your notes with the description given below.
The heart is a pear shaped structure, triangle in outline, wider at the anterior end and narrower at the posterior end.
The heart is covered by two layered membrane. This is called Pericardium (pericardial membrane). The space between these two layers is filled with pericardial fluid, which protects the heart from shocks.