350 DISSECTION OF THE RABBIT. 



b. The left ventricle forms the left side and apex of 



the heart ; and is firmer than the right ventricle, 

 owing to the greater thickness of its walls. 



c. The left auricle is anterior to the left ventricle, and 



is largely concealed by the great vessels. It is 

 produced ventrally into the auricular appendix. 



d. The right auricle is dorsal to the base of the right 



ventricle, and is produced in front into the 

 auricular appendix. 



2. The roots of the great vessels. 



a. Opening into the right auricle. 



i. The right anterior vena cava returns blood from 

 the right side of the head, neck, and thorax, 

 and from the right fore-limb. It enters the 

 thorax at its anterior end, and runs back 

 along the inner side of the right lung, to 

 open into the right auricle by an aperture 

 in its dorsal wall. 



ii. The left anterior vena cava returns blood from 

 the left side of the head, neck, and thorax, 

 and from the left fore-limb. It runs back 

 along the inner side of the left lung, and 

 crosses between the heart and the root of the 

 left lung, to open into the left side of the 

 right auricle. 



iii. The posterior vena cava returns blood from all 

 parts of the body behind the diaphragm. It 

 enters the thorax through an aperture in the 

 diaphragm and runs forwards, slightly to the 

 right of the median plane, to open into the 

 posterior end of the right auricle. 



b. Arising from the right ventricle. 



The pulmonary artery conveys the venous blood 

 from the heart to the lungs. It arises from 

 the anterior border of the right ventricle in 



