Surgical isolation of trachea, carotid artery, and external jugular vein during left ventricular catheterization assay. (a) A photograph of the mouse neck under a stereoscopic dissection microscope following internal carotid artery isolation. Arrowhead, the internal carotid artery; arrow, the external jugular vein; asterisk, trachea. (b) A photograph of the mouse neck under a stereoscopic dissection microscope after PV catheter insertion and external jugular vein cannulation. Arrowhead, the PV catheter in the internal carotid artery; arrow, the 30G needle cannulating the external jugular vein; asterisk, trachea.