Quick Answer: The human heart model, 4 parts, on base is an anatomical heart that comes apart into four pieces and stands on a display base in its natural orientation. Mounted upright, the heart model on base is used to teach how the heart sits in the chest, its surfaces and borders, and its interior.
Orientation First: How the Heart Sits in the Chest
The words on base in this listing refer to the display stand, not to the anatomical base of the heart. That distinction trips students up: anatomically, the base of the heart is its back surface, formed mostly by the left atrium where the pulmonary veins enter, while the apex is the blunt tip pointing forward, downward and to the left. A mounted model holds the organ in this tilted position so students learn to read it as it lies in the chest.
From that position the surfaces can be named. The front, or sternocostal, surface is formed mainly by the right ventricle, which is why the right ventricle lies closest to the breastbone; the lower, diaphragmatic surface rests on the diaphragm; and the left border is formed mostly by the left ventricle. The apex usually lies behind the fifth left intercostal space, where the apex beat can be felt and where the mitral valve is most clearly heard.
Nursing and medical students also use the model to link valves to their listening areas on the chest wall, which lie some distance from the valves themselves because sound travels along the flow of blood. The four removable parts then open the heart to show the chambers and valves. A similar four-part heart is also listed as the human heart, 4 parts; buyers comparing the two should check how each divides and whether it has a base, as this may be the main difference.
Specifications
| Model of | Adult human heart |
| Parts | Four, as stated in the listing title |
| Mounting | Display base holding the heart in its chest orientation |
| Surface features | Apex, sternocostal and diaphragmatic surfaces and coronary vessels, as usually shown |
| How the parts divide and size | Confirm at enquiry |
Applications
- Teaching the orientation, surfaces and borders of the heart
- Linking the apex beat and valve listening areas to heart anatomy in nursing skills labs
- Opening the heart to identify its chambers and valves
- Practical anatomy tests with the model on its stand
Care & Handling
- Lift the heart off its base with both hands before separating the parts, and work over a table.
- Reassemble the four parts fully before returning the heart to its base, so the stand is not carrying loose pieces.
- Wipe with a soft, lightly damp cloth, and keep solvents away from the painted vessels.
Why Choose LabEquip
Nursing colleges and medical anatomy departments often prefer a mounted heart because it keeps the organ in its true orientation during demonstrations. LabEquip stocks it as one of its biology lab products; enquire through the LabEquip contact page about the base and how the parts divide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is on base the same as the base of the heart?
No. In this listing on base means the model stands on a display base. The anatomical base of the heart is its back surface, formed mainly by the left atrium.
Where is the apex of the heart?
It points forward, downward and to the left, usually lying behind the fifth left intercostal space a little inside the midpoint of the collarbone. The apex beat can be felt there.
Which chamber forms the front of the heart?
Mainly the right ventricle. This is why it lies closest to the breastbone, while the left ventricle forms most of the left border and the apex.
Where are the heart valves listened to on the chest?
The aortic valve at the second right intercostal space beside the sternum, the pulmonary valve at the second left, the tricuspid at the lower left sternal edge and the mitral at the apex. These areas follow the flow of blood rather than the valve positions.
Why is the model tilted on its base?
The heart lies obliquely in the chest, with its apex to the left. Mounting it in that orientation teaches students to recognise the surfaces as they appear in the body and on imaging.
How does this compare with the other four-part heart listed?
Both open into four pieces for interior study. This listing specifies a display base, so compare how the parts divide and the size of each before choosing between them.
Last Updated: September 2026
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