Heart and lungs

In this view, we have opened the pericardial sac with forceps to show the detail of the heart.

The coronary artery runs on the ventral surface of the heart (shown here from the labeled line to the yellow dot and further to the pig's right). This blood vessel supplies oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood to the ventral portion of the heart (a dorsal artery does the same on the opposite side). A blockage of these arteries cause heart attacks (often called "coronaries").

The coronary artery also serves as a good landmark indicating the underlying interventricular septum, which separates the right and left ventricles. Thus, in this image, the left ventricle is below and right of the coronary artery, and the right ventricle is shown above and left of the coronary artery.

Next: The heart and lungs removed

Back to: The circulatory system