Required Practical: Dissecting Mass Transport Systems (AQA A Level Biology): Revision Note

Exam code: 7402

Lára Marie McIvor

Written by: Lára Marie McIvor

Reviewed by: Naomi Holyoak

Updated on

Required practical: dissection of mass transport system

  • It is possible to dissect parts of organisms, e.g. the heart, to better understand form and function

  • Dissecting the mammalian heart allows us to observe chambers, valves, and associated vessels

Diagram of a labelled human heart showing parts: aorta, pulmonary artery, atria, ventricles, vena cava, coronary arteries, apex, and aortic arch.
Dissecting a mammalian heart allows the main chambers and blood vessels to be identified, as illustrated in the realistic image of the front of a heart shown above

Safety

  • Wear a lab coat, gloves, and eye protection to prevent contamination with biological material

  • Use dissection tools safely, e.g.:

    • cut away from the body

    • keep fingers away from blades

Apparatus

  • Dissection board

  • Scalpel

  • Dissecting scissors

  • Forceps / tweezers

  • Pins

  • Mounted needle

  • Biological specimen, e.g. pig or sheep heart

  • Disinfectant and disposal container

Dissection method

  1. Place the specimen on a dissection board with the front facing upwards

    • The front of the heart can be identified by the location of the coronary arteries, which cross the front of the heart between the left and right ventricles as shown in the image above

  2. Observe external features that are visible, e.g.:

    • coronary arteries

    • fatty deposits

    • left and right atria; these are small flaps at the top of the heart

    • some of the major blood vessels, e.g. aorta, pulmonary artery

  3. Make two vertical cuts through the centre of the left and right ventricles and atria

    • This may be easier to accomplish using scissors than a scalpel

  4. Use forceps, fingers or a mounted needle to gently open out the muscle tissue

  5. Pin back the outer sides of the ventricles to expose internal features

  6. Identify the following internal structures:

    • left and right ventricle walls; you should be able to compare the muscle thickness

    • the thin muscle walls of the atria

    • the septum

    • atrioventricular valves

    • the entrances to the major blood vessels

Illustration of a dissected heart with vertical cuts through the left and right ventricles. A blue pencil passes through the right ventricle. Internal structures are in pink and red tones and external fatty deposits in white.
Vertical cuts through the front of the left and right sides of the heart allow the muscle walls to be compared, and connections between the different chambers and vessels to be located

Limitations

  • Dead tissue may not accurately reflect the appearance or flexibility of living organs, e.g.:

    • sometimes the atria and blood vessels are removed during the butchering process

    • older tissue, or tissue that has been frozen, may become dry or stiffened

  • Smaller structures, such as valve flaps, may be difficult to locate

  • Dissecting only one specimen may limit the reliability of observations

Ethical considerations

  • Specimens should always come from reputable sources

  • Biological waste must be disposed of responsibly

  • Some students may have ethical concerns about animal use, or religious beliefs that may prevent participation in a dissection practical

Examiner Tips and Tricks

You may be asked to suggest a method of dissection for a particular organ; make sure that you name the specific tools, e.g. scissors and forceps, that should be used.

Link visible features, such as wall thickness, to functional significance, i.e. generating high pressure in the left ventricle.

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Lára Marie McIvor

Author: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Biology, Psychology & Sociology Subject Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.

Naomi Holyoak

Reviewer: Naomi Holyoak

Expertise: Biology Content Creator

Naomi graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in Biological Sciences. She has 8 years of classroom experience teaching Key Stage 3 up to A-Level biology, and is currently a tutor and A-Level examiner. Naomi especially enjoys creating resources that enable students to build a solid understanding of subject content, while also connecting their knowledge with biology’s exciting, real-world applications.

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