ABSTRACT
Swine share important characteristics with humans in anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, making them useful models in the study of human diseases (Corin et al., 1988; Gardner and Johnson, 1988; Gootman, 2001; Horneffer et al., 1986; Hughes, 1986; Lee, 1986; McKenzie, 1996; Smith et al., 1990, 1994; Stanton and Mersmann, 1986; Swindle, 1983, 1986, 1992; Swindle and Adams, 1988; Swindle and Bobbie, 1987; Swindle et al., 1986, 1988). Besides the size and morphologic characteristics, there are physiological similarities in the areas of coronary blood flow, growth of the cardiovascular system, and neonatal pulmonary development. The approximate distribution of the coronary arteries is as follows (Gootman, 2001):
Right coronary artery — 72% right ventricle, sinaoatrial node, and atrioventricular node, 25% left ventricle
Left anterior descending coronary artery — 28% right ventricle, 49% left ventricle
The coronary circulation of the pig has few subepicardial collateral anastomoses, similar to 90% of the human population. The circulation to the conduction system is predominantly right-side dominant from the posterior septal artery, in contrast to the dog. Consequently, the pig responds in a similar manner to humans with acute myocardial infarction (Bloor et al., 1986, 1992; Gardner and Johnson, 1988; Unger, 2001; Verdouw et al., 1998; White et al., 1986). Various anatomic views of the heart are shown in Figure 9.1-Figure 9.8.
