title: [Dissection of the heart: a useful guide to understanding the three-dimensional gross anatomy].
abstract: In order to understand the three-dimensional gross anatomy of the heart, it is important to observe the inner structures of the chambers and the spatial relation between the valves and the ventricles. In our dissecting laboratory, we designed a guide to dissection of the heart according to the following procedures. First, we observe the surface anatomy of the heart in the pericardial cavity, remove the heart and then identify the coronary vessels, open the four chambers and observe the intra-cardiac structures. Next, we remove the atria from the ventricles and examine the relation between the valves and the chambers. Our guide is useful for learning the three-dimensional gross anatomy which is fundamental to understanding the normal function and disease of the heart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abenoku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakabe
authors.forename: Mikiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakatani
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshiyamal
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakajima
mesh_terms: D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans