Have you ever wondered what the inside of a heart looks like? Recently, Bec and Asa took a deep dive into the anatomy of a heart with Dr. Rina Fu, a medical scientist and educator. With a real pig’s heart in hand, we embarked on an exciting journey to uncover how this vital organ works.

A Real Heart in the Studio

Dr. Rina didn’t steal a human heart, we promise! The heart we examined was from a pig, which is often used for medical studies due to its similarity to a human heart. Holding the heart, the first thing we noticed was its slimy texture and the large, rubbery valve at the top. It felt like a small, slippery fish!

How Does the Heart Work?

At its core, the heart is a powerful pump that keeps blood flowing throughout the body. Blood moves through large vessels like the aorta, which is the biggest blood vessel in the body. The heart pushes oxygenated blood to the brain, toes, and everywhere in between, ensuring every cell gets the oxygen it needs to function.

Dissecting the Heart

With gloves on and tools in hand, we carefully cut open the heart to explore its chambers. Inside, we discovered:

  • The left and right sides of the heart: The left side has a much thicker wall because it needs to pump blood to the entire body, while the right only pumps blood to the lungs.
  • Heartstrings (Yes, they’re real!): These tiny fibre-like structures help control the heart valves, ensuring blood flows in the right direction.
  • The atria and ventricles: These are the heart’s main chambers, each playing a crucial role in pumping blood.

Want to see the full heart dissection in action? Check out the video below!

The Heart’s Amazing Power

One mind-blowing fact? The human heart pumps about 7,600 litres of blood per day! That’s more work than most pool filtration systems. It’s truly an incredible machine.

The Future of Heart Science

Could a pig’s heart be transplanted into a human? Scientists are researching ways to use animal tissue for medical treatments, including heart valve replacements. Who knows? Maybe in the future, pig hearts will save human lives.