Cat_Circulation

	DISSECTION OF CAT TO SHOW CIRCULATORY FEATURES ©David B. Fankhauser, Ph.D., Professor of Biology and Chemistry University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Batavia OH 45103
cat heart: pulmonary trunk passes between two atria	This page has been accessed times since 27 March 2002. 6 April 1995, 25 March 1996, 17 April '97, 28 Mar 00, 5 April 01, 24 Mar 02, 8 April 03

The following directions should assist you in locating the major arteries and veins in the cat. You should also consult Gilbert's Pictorial Anatomy of the Cat during the dissections. For the page numbers, see the protocol Anatomy of the Circulatory System in the Cat.

HEART AND CHEST:

With the chest cavity open, split the parietal pericardium by snipping upward from the apex toward the base. Peel it back to reveal the heart. Note the superior vena cava is prominent in the mediastinal space above the heart and the inferior vena cava is below and behind the heart in a direct line with the superior vena cava.

Note the atria (R & L) the ventricles and theanterior interventricular artery. Note the pulmonary trunk emerging diagonally up to your right from the R ventricle.

Here is a labeled view of the cat heart.

You may wish to make a transverse section through the upper portions of the ventricles of the heart. Illustrate this transverse section to show the R ventricle, interventricular septum and the L ventricle . Comment on the differences observed. If you do not do this procedure, observe and illustrate one on which it has been performed.

Use the blunt probe to trace the branching of the superior vena cava to produce in succession the R & L innominate veins. These branch to form the jugular and the subclavian. The subclavian branches to form the subscapular and the axillary veins.

Here is a labeled picture of the veins of the thorax.

Behind the pulmonary artery, use the probe to find theaortic arch and its two branches (three in the human): the innominant artery (or brachiocephalic) and the left subclavian. Follow the innominant to its branches: L & R common carotids, and the R subclavian. Trace this latter to the R axillary, and then the R brachial artery.

Here is a labeled view of the aortic arch and the "Great Vessels."

The circle of Willis is formed from the two vertebral arteries below, which join to form the basilar artery. The basilar splits into the R & L posterior cerebral arteries. The internal carotids enter the cranium on either side of the sella turcica, and split to form the middle and anterior cerebral arteries. Posterior communicating arteries join the posterior and middle cerebral arteries, and the anterior communication artery joins the two anterior cerebral arteries. Here is a labeled version of the circle of Willis .

Roll the L lung medially and follow the descending aorta down along the rear wall of the thorax. Note the intercostal arteries running between the ribs under the parietal pleura.

ABDOMEN:

Move the abdominal contents to the right, and find the rear border of the diaphragm. (It is lower in the rear than the front.) using the blunt probe, remove the peritoneum and adventitia to reveal the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries immediately below the diaphragm over the vertebral column. Find the three branches of the celiac artery: the hepatic to the cat's R, the splenic (the large central vessel), and to the L, the left gastric
Here is a labeled version of the upper abdominal arteries.

R & L Renal arteries and veins should be easily located. Note that the L gonadal vein drains into the L renal vein, while the R gonadal vein empties directly into the inferior vena cava . The R & L gonadal arteries branch off the descending aorta below the level of the kidneys. The last major branch from the abdominal aorta is the inferior mesenteric.

.
LOWER GROIN AND LEGS:

The descending aorta ends where it splits into the R & L common iliac arteries ["external" iliac in the cat]. These branch to form the deep femoral arteries (plunge deep just before abdominal wall) and the femoral arteries at the exit point from the abdomen. The saphenous vein, the major superficial vein of the leg, runs down the medial surface of the of the leg.

FEATURES TO IDENTIFY AND ILLUSTRATE IN THE CAT:

III. CIRCLE OF WILLIS
(underside of well-excised brain) (p. 82)
basilar artery
R&L posterior cerebral arteries
R&L posterior communicating arteries
R&L internal carotid arteries
R&L middle cerebral arteries
R&L anterior cerebral arteries
anterior communicating artery (difficult)

IV. THORAX, NECK AND ARMS
External features of the heart
(p. 62-63, 68-69)
pericardium
right atrium
right ventricle
left atrium (toward the rear)
pulmonary trunk
aorta Vessels of the thorax, neck and arms (p. 62-63)
Veins:
superior vena cava (precava)
R&L innominate veins
R&L subclavian veins
axillary vein
brachial vein
R&L external jugular veins (p. 20) Arteries: (p. 65, 69) (as in cat)
innominate artery
R&L common carotid
R subclavian artery
R axillary artery
R brachial artery
L subclavian artery
[esophagus]
descending aorta
intercostal arteries

V. ABDOMEN, GROIN AND LEG (p. 49-55)
Vessels of the abdomen:
    (often under fat, close to vertebral column)
inferior vena cava
descending aorta
celiac artery (move abdominal contents to cat's R)
L gastric artery
splenic artery
(common) hepatic artery
superior mesenteric artery
renal vein and artery
L gonadal vein:
    empties into L renal vein
R gonadal vein:
   empties into inferior vena cava
R&L gonadal arteries
inferior mesenteric artery
Lower groin and leg (p. 71)
external [common] iliac artery & vein
deep femoral artery (plunges just before abdml wall)
femoral artery & vein
saphenous vein

	With the chest cavity open, split the parietal pericardium by snipping upward from the apex toward the base. Peel it back to reveal the heart. Note the superior vena cava is prominent in the mediastinal space above the heart and the inferior vena cava is below and behind the heart in a direct line with the superior vena cava.
	Note the atria (R & L) the ventricles and theanterior interventricular artery. Note the pulmonary trunk emerging diagonally up to your right from the R ventricle. Here is a labeled view of the cat heart.
	You may wish to make a transverse section through the upper portions of the ventricles of the heart. Illustrate this transverse section to show the R ventricle, interventricular septum and the L ventricle . Comment on the differences observed. If you do not do this procedure, observe and illustrate one on which it has been performed.
	Use the blunt probe to trace the branching of the superior vena cava to produce in succession the R & L innominate veins. These branch to form the jugular and the subclavian. The subclavian branches to form the subscapular and the axillary veins. Here is a labeled picture of the veins of the thorax.
	Behind the pulmonary artery, use the probe to find theaortic arch and its two branches (three in the human): the innominant artery (or brachiocephalic) and the left subclavian. Follow the innominant to its branches: L & R common carotids, and the R subclavian. Trace this latter to the R axillary, and then the R brachial artery. Here is a labeled view of the aortic arch and the "Great Vessels."
	The circle of Willis is formed from the two vertebral arteries below, which join to form the basilar artery. The basilar splits into the R & L posterior cerebral arteries. The internal carotids enter the cranium on either side of the sella turcica, and split to form the middle and anterior cerebral arteries. Posterior communicating arteries join the posterior and middle cerebral arteries, and the anterior communication artery joins the two anterior cerebral arteries. Here is a labeled version of the circle of Willis .
	Roll the L lung medially and follow the descending aorta down along the rear wall of the thorax. Note the intercostal arteries running between the ribs under the parietal pleura.

V. ABDOMEN, GROIN AND LEG (p. 49-55) Vessels of the abdomen: (often under fat, close to vertebral column) inferior vena cava descending aorta celiac artery (move abdominal contents to cat's R) L gastric artery splenic artery	(common) hepatic artery superior mesenteric artery renal vein and artery L gonadal vein: empties into L renal vein R gonadal vein: empties into inferior vena cava R&L gonadal arteries inferior mesenteric artery	Lower groin and leg (p. 71) external [common] iliac artery & vein deep femoral artery (plunges just before abdml wall) femoral artery & vein saphenous vein

DISSECTION OF CAT TO SHOW CIRCULATORY FEATURES