418 DISSECTION OF THE PIGEON 



i. The left auriculo-ventricular or mitral valve is 

 formed by two membranous flaps, which 

 hang into the ventricle. Their hinder borders 

 are attached by chordae tendinese to muscular 

 processes of the ventricular wall, the mus- 

 culi papillares. 



ii. The aperture of the aorta is at the anterior 

 end of the ventricle, and at its right side. 

 In the natural position of the parts, it lies 

 dorsal to the aperture of the pulmonary 

 artery. 



Pass a seeker from the ventricle along the aorta, and lay 

 it open with scissors along its right side. 



a. The semilunar valves are three pocket-like 

 flaps, similar to those of the pulmonary 

 artery. 



.VI. DISSECTION OP THE EESPIEATOEY SYSTEM. 



Bemove the heart, if this has not already been done, and 

 also the alimentary canal and liver. Clean the trachea and 

 the ventral surface of the lungs. 



1. The trachea, or wind-pipe, is a tube which commences 

 in front at the glottis, runs back along the neck, 

 and divides in the thorax into two bronchi, entering 

 the right and left lungs respectively. 



It is surrounded by a series of closely set rings, 

 -which are ossified ventrally, and cartilaginous along 

 the dorsal surface. 



In the anterior part of the neck the trachea is 

 ventral to the oesophagus ; further back it lies along 

 its left side. In the thorax, where it again lies 

 ventral to the oesophagus, it divides into the two 

 bronchi, which run outwards and backwards to enter 

 the lungs on their ventral surface and near their 

 anterior ends. 



