Heart
The purpose of dissecting a sheep's heart is to understand the structure, anatomy, functions and similarities.
Similarities
Like most, both the sheep and human heart have the same function, to circulate blood around the body. The first of a few similarities is they both have four chambers. If you look at a diagram of a human heart, and then a sheep heart as in the image above, they both have the same labels. On the other hand, the two hearts also have their differences. The sheep heart is in a slightly different position and is around 2 times smaller.
Function
The sheep heart contains four chambers, as is visible in the diagram; the right ventricle, left ventricle, right atrium and left atrium. The ventricles are accountable for sending stored blood to the lungs and other parts of the body. The atriums receive blood that has returned for it's destination, lungs e.t.c. Connecting the atriums are the auricles. The entire amount of auricles are responsible for restricting the amount of blood that enters the atria. The largest blood vessel in the body, the aorta carries the oxygenated blood, starting at the left ventricle to the other sections of the body. The aorta branches, in order to carry blood to the rest of the body quicker. Another blood vessel behind the aorta is the pulmonary artery, carrying the blood from the left ventricle to the lungs. This means the left ventricle is responsible for supplying blood for the lungs and the right ventricle is responsible for supplying blood for the entire body.
References:
http://www.ukessays.co.uk/essays/biology/sheeps-heart.php 22/6/15
http://www.nationalcprfoundation.com/courses/standard-cpr-aed-first-aid/heart/ 23/06/15
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