Table 1 Major anatomical differences between porcine and human hearts
Features | Porcine Heart | Human Heart |
|---|---|---|
Shape and Orientation | “Valentine shaped heart” which is oriented in line with the unguligrade stance of the pig | “Trapezoidal” shaped heart oriented in line with the orthograde posture of the human being |
Presence of tubular appendage | Observed in the right atrium | Observed in the left atrium |
Vena cava orientation | The superior and inferior vena cava opens into the right atrium at right angles to each other | The superior and inferior vena cava open into the right atrium in a straight line at 180 degrees |
Pulmonary veins | Left atrium receives 2 pulmonary veins | Left atrium receives 4 pulmonary veins |
Muscular moderator in right ventricle | Prominent and situated more superior in the right ventricle | Less prominent and situated more inferior in the right ventricle |
Characteristic of Apical components | Contains coarse and broad trabeculations | Trabeculations are absent and apex is narrower |
Aortic-Mitral fibrous continuity | Reduced as 2/3RD of aortic valve is supported by left ventricular musculature | Not reduced |
Coronary Dominance | Left anterior descending coronary artery dominant | Right coronary dominant |
Difference in right and left atrio-ventricular branches | Right atrio-ventricular branches are less developed than left-sided equivalents | No major differences exist between the right and left atrio-ventricular branches |