Download Cat dissection guide

CAT DISSECTION LIST
Name ____________________
Period _____
Human Anatomy & Physiology
1. Superficial muscles of the thorax and forelimb, ventral view
/ 14 ______
2. Superficial muscles of the neck, ventral view
/ 11 ______
3. Superficial muscles of the thorax and forelimb, dorsal view
/ 15 ______
4. Deep muscles of the thorax, ventral view
/ 14 ______
5. Deep muscles of the shoulder and forelimb, dorsal view
/ 11 ______
6. Superficial muscles of the hind limb, lateral view
/ 11 ______
7. Superficial muscles of the hind limb, medial view
/ 10 ______
8. The abdominal and thoracic viscera, ventral view
/ 20 ______
9. Visceral surface of the liver
/ 8 ______
10. The stomach and colon
/ 19 ______
11m. The kidneys and abdominal vessels in a male
/ 14 ______
11f. The kidneys and abdominal vessels in a female
/ 14 ______
12. Frontal section of the kidney
/ 8 ______
13. The brachial vessels and nerves, ventral view
/ 20 ______
14. Dorsal view of the heart of the cat
/ 17 ______
total points =
/ 192
You get one chance to identify the structures for each of the 14 lists above. Scores will be
recorded with a date and initial. For more details, see the ‘Assessment’ section of the Cat
Dissection Overview. Good luck 
Cat Dissection Overview
Cat dissection?!? (purpose):
‘Is dissecting cats really necessary?’ you ask. Well, perhaps not when compared with the basic needs of shelter,
food, clothing and relationships , but the hands-on experience of systematically examining the various muscles,
arteries, viscera and other systems proves to be a very relevant and important application of the topics we have
been and will be learning in this course. While there are obvious differences between humans and cats, many of
our structures are quite similar (such as the names and purposes of these structures, including muscles, organs,
etc.)
Dissection is serious work:
The work of dissection is serious business and we will take it seriously. We are not Dr. Frankenstein looking to
piece together a new creature, nor are we rogue plastic surgeons or amputation specialists looking to slash here
and there for a thrill. If you are unable to take your role as a scientist (anatomist/physiologist) seriously then you
will no longer be able to participate in this experience.
Where/how do ‘they’ get the cats?
The cats sold from reputable biological supply companies (such as from which we have purchased our cats) are
generally obtained from animal shelters where they were set to be euthanized (put down). Rather than having
these animals go to waste, the shelters and the companies have found a triple purpose use by which the cats are
disposed of, some money is made, and some valuable learning is accomplished all at the same time. In other
words, these cats lived real cat lives and each one will likely be somewhat unique as we explore them. The cats
are all adults, some will be males and some will be females, some will still have food in their stomachs (and waste
in their large intestine), some may be pregnant, and others may have injuries that you may discover as you go.
Safety considerations:
There are many ways you could be hurt, etc. but by taking some reasonable (some might say obvious) safety
precautions we will all have a safe and enjoyable time. In the end, you (and your lab team) are the only person(s)
who can ensure your safety. Exercising the utmost care when using and handling scalpels or other dissection
instruments is of the utmost importance – whether your hands are on or off the cat always be aware of what your
hands are doing, and also be aware of the hands of others! It should also go without saying that we do not eat in
the lab . Since classrooms (especially science classrooms) these days are very overcrowded places, be very
careful when moving around the room. On dissection days we will also place all backpacks, coats, and other
materials not needed for the dissection under the lab counters around the perimeter of the classroom.
Setup/Cleanup procedures:
Because we do not have a separate lab space, we will be performing the dissections in our classroom on the
available lab counters and table-desks. In other words, this period’s dissection surface is next period’s writing
surface . Therefore, at the conclusion of the allotted work time you will be asked to throw away all garbage,
scraps, etc. and then return your cat to its bag and then to its storage tote. You should then rinse your dissection
equipment at the sink (for scalpels, simply rinse with water and do not touch the blade with your fingers!!!) You
should also wash your lab/desk/table surface with soap and water. Remember: the cleaner you are the less you
will have to clean!
Dissection schedule:
We will spend approximately 10 class periods doing dissection. These will take place during most (probably all)
class meetings that fall on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays between now and Spring Break. With 14
different dissection tasks to complete, you must average more than one completed task each dissection period.
Plan to come every day and always come prepared to work! Believe it or not, life (and class) goes on even if you
are not here  so…if you miss class…upon your return it is your group’s (and your) responsibility to get you
caught up.
Assessment:
There will be a quiz for each of the 14 dissection tasks in your dissection guide. This quiz will be in an oral
format. You may be given the name of a structure and asked to identify it on your cat or vice versa (e.g. ‘Please
point to the xiphihumeralis on your cat’ or ‘What muscle is this pin in?’). You may alternately be asked about the
function of the structures you are studying (e.g. ‘Is the triceps brachii a flexor or an extensor?’ or ‘What two
structures are connected by the clavobrachialis?’) Quiz scores will be recorded/initialed/dated on your ‘Cat
Dissection List’ sheet so it is advisable that you do not lose this page as it will be the only record of your work
until it is turned in!
Homework/studying:
You can improve your performance during the dissection class periods (and on the quizzes ) by doing some
work ahead of time. You will be given your own copy of the dissection guide and a copy will be available for
download via the class website. At times you will be given specific homework assignments, such as defining
certain words, etc. but in general it is a good idea to read the relevant pages in the dissection guide before you
come to class. This way, you will better know what you are supposed to do and may even get a head start on
memorizing the names and locations of the structures you are looking at!
Equipment:
It is advisable that you wear a lab coat, apron, scrubs, etc. to protect your clothing from incidental contact with the
cat and/or various fluids that will inevitably be present during the dissection. There will be some lab aprons
provided, but if you want to bring your own you are welcome to do that. (Cleaning note: no permanent harm will
come to your lab coat, even if they get cat material/liquid on them…a wash in the washing machine with normal
laundry detergent will clean them right up!) Ladies and longer haired folk…hair restraints for your long hairs are
strongly encouraged – you don’t want those lovely locks falling into the cat and then smelling like embalming
fluid for the rest of the day 
Choosing a group:
Your lab group, consisting of four members, will be of your own choosing. However, you are advised to consider
all of the factors we have discussed here before agreeing to whom you will work with for the next several weeks!
Donation Request:
Sunset High School is able to provide the specimens (cats = approx. $40 each) and equipment (scalpels, probes,
etc.) for this dissection experience. However, since we will be spending 10 or more class periods doing dissection
this means lots of hands needing lots of gloves. Therefore it would be helpful if each student (for whom it is
not a financial hardship) could bring a box of nitrile (non-powdered) exam gloves for shared use during
the class. These can be found at Fred Meyer, Costco or other local stores. A list will not be kept of who brings or
does not bring gloves, we simply ask that you contribute if you are able. (NOTE: Please do not bring in latex
gloves as some students may have allergies)
CAT DISSECTION GUIDE
Human Anatomy & Physiology
Table of Contents
1.
Superficial muscles of the thorax and forelimb, ventral view
2.
Superficial muscles of the neck, ventral view
3.
Superficial muscles of the thorax and forelimb, dorsal view
4.
Deep muscles of the thorax, ventral view
5.
Deep muscles of the shoulder and forelimb, dorsal view
6.
Superficial muscles of the hind limb, lateral view
7.
Superficial muscles of the hind limb, medial view
8.
The abdominal and thoracic viscera, ventral view
9.
Visceral surface of the liver
10. The stomach and colon
11m. The kidneys and abdominal vessels in a male
11f. The kidneys and abdominal vessels in a female
12. Frontal section of the kidney
13. The brachial vessels and nerves, ventral view
14. Dorsal view of the heart of the cat
1
SUPERFICIAL MUSCLES OF
THE THORAX AND FORELIMB,
VENTRAL VIEW
1. brachioradialis
2. clavobrachialis
3. clavotrapezius
5. epitrochlearis
8. external oblique
12. latissimus dorsi
13. palmaris longus
14. pectoantebrachialis
15. pectoralis major
16. pectoralis minor
18. tranverse carpal ligament
19. triceps brachii
20. sternomastoid
21. xiphihumeralis
Make your cat look just like the picture. Only skin the cat’s left arm and chest, leaving the
right side as protection in case you damage the muscles in preparation. Try to remove as
much of fascia and fat as possible. The muscles of the chest are paper-thin as a cat does
not use these muscles very much, thus they are not overly developed.
The arm will have fascia and protective membranes around the muscles. It is advisable to
remove this. Once removed, if you press on the arm the muscles will separate out and
become easier to see.
2
SUPERFICIAL MUSCLES OF
THE NECK, VENTRAL VIEW
1. anterior facial vein
3. clavicle
4. clavobrachialis
5. clavotrapezius
8. external jugular vein
14. pectoantebrachialis
15. pectoralis major
16. posterior facial vein
17. sternohyoid
18. sternomastoid
20. transverse jugular vein
3
SUPERFICIAL MUSCLES OF
THE THORAX AND FORELIMB,
DORSAL VIEW
1. acromiodeltoid
2. acromiotrapezius
3. brachioradialis
4. clavobrachialis
5. clavotrapezius
6. dorsal carpal ligament
9. extensor carpi ulnaris
12. infraspinatus
13. lateral head of triceps
14. latissimus dorsi
15. levator scapulae ventralis
16. long head of triceps
17. spinodeltoid
18. spinotrapezius
19. teres major
4
DEEP MUSCLES OF THE THORAX, VENTRAL VIEW
1. biceps brachii
2. brachialis
4. cut insertions of pectoralis
major & pectoantebrachialis
5. epitrochliaris
6. external oblique
7. latissimus dorsi
9. pectoralis minor
10. rectus abdominis
12. serratus ventralis
13. sternohyoid
14. subscapularis
15. teres major
17. triceps brachii
18. xiphihumeralis
5
DEEP MUSCLES OF THE SHOULDER
AND FORELIMB, DORSAL VIEW
2. brachialis
12. head of the humerus
13. infraspinatus
14. long head of triceps
15. medial head of triceps
16. rhomboideus
18. serratus dorsalis
19. serratus ventralis
20. spine of scapula
23. supraspinatus
24. teres major
brachialis
6
SUPERFICIAL MUSCLES OF THE HINDLIMB,
LATERAL VIEW
1. aponeurosis of tensor faciae latae
2. biceps femoris
3. caudofemoralis
6. fascia lata
7. gastrocnemius
8. gluteus maximus
9. lateral malleolus
15. sartorius
17. tensor faciae latae
18. tibialis anterior
20. semitendinosus
SUPERFICIAL MUSCLES OF THE HINDLIMB, MEDIAL VIEW
2. adductor femoris
4. external oblique
7. gastrocnemius
8. gracilis
10. medial malleolus
12. rectus abdominus
13. sartorius
14. semitendinosis
16. tibia
17. tibialis anterior
7
8
VISCERAL SURFACE
OF THE LIVER
9
1. caudate lobe
2. coronary ligament
3. left medial lobe
4. nonperitoneal surface
5. postcava
6. right lateral lobe, posterior part
8. right medial lobe
To remove the liver you must sever the postcava on the superior and separate the
diaphragm. There are lobes that are hidden underneath so carefully locate those and
include those with your dissection. When you remove the liver you will also remove the
gall bladder and common bile duct. The liver produces bile, which cleanses food and
neutralizes the stomach acids – the common bile duct dumps the bile (stored in the gall
bladder) into the duodenum.
10
THE STOMACH AND COLON
2. aorta
3. ascending colon
4. caudate lobe of liver
5. cecum
7. common bile duct
9. descending colon
10. descending limb of
duodenum
18. jejunum
20. left lateral lobe of liver
22. mesentery
23. mesocolon
25. pancreas
27. portal vein
33. splenic artery
34. spleen
35. stomach
36. superior mesenteric
artery
37. superior mesenteric
vein
38. transverse colon
THE KIDNEYS AND
ABDOMINAL VESSELS
IN A MALE
11
3. aorta
4. branch of deep femoral
artery and vein
6. colon
7. diaphragm
9. esophagus
12. kidney
14. iliopsoas
18. postcava
19. psoas minor
20. renal artery
21. renal vein
22. spermatic chord
25. ureter
26. urinary bladder
Notice the picture shows the
colon removed. I recommend
not severing the colon because
it is full of feces. Simply push
the colon to the side and
proceed
m
11
f
THE KIDNEYS, UTERUS,
AND ABDOMINAL VESSELS
IN A FEMALE
4. aorta
5. branches of deep femoral artery
and vein
8. colon
9. diaphragm
10. esophagus
11. fallopian tube
13. hepatic veins
18. kidney
19. uterine horn
23. ovarian artery and vein
24. ovary
25. post cava
27. renal artery
28. renal vein
36. ureter
37. urinary bladder
Notice the picture shows the colon
removed. I recommend not severing
the colon because it is full of feces.
Simply push the colon to the side
and proceed.
12
13
THE BRACHIAL VESSELS AND NERVES, VENTRAL VIEW
2. aortic arch
5. axillary vein
6. biceps
8. brachial vein
10. common carotid artery
13. esophagus
14. external jugular vein
16. innominate artery
17. innominate vein
19. internal jugular vein
26. left ventricle
35. postcava
36. precava
37. pulmonary artery
39. right atrium
40. right lung, anterior lobe
41. right lung, middle lobe
42. right ventricle
53. trachea
55. triceps
Make the cat’s chest cavity look just like the picture (see next page). Find the precava
and innominate artery and clean all the chest muscle away. Follow those two vessels up
to the neck, clearing away all the muscles and tissue as you go. Everywhere that the
vessels branch, clean those and follow them. Expose the vessels into the arm. Make the
trachea and carotid arteries and jugular veins accessible. Remove the left lungs to
expose the pulmonary vessels.
13
14
4
9
13
11
15
7
16
8
5
16
8
14
6
3
3
DORSAL VIEW OF THE
HEART OF THE CAT
1. aorta
2. azygos vein
3. dorsal pulmonary vein
4. innominate artery
5. left atrium
6. left auricle
7. left pulmonary artery
8. left pulmonary veins
9. left subclavian artery
10. left ventricle
11. ligamentum areteriosum
12. postcava
13. precava
14. right atrium
15. right pulmonary artery
16. right pulmonary vein
17. right ventricle
12
10
To remove the heart from the cat you have to sever the pulmonary arteries and veins
that connect to the lungs (remove the lungs). Also sever the aorta about 1 full inch from
the heart – this insures that the innominate and left subclavian arteries stay intact. Also
try to include about ½ inch of the innominate and left subclavian artery with the heart.
Sever the precava and the postcava and the heart should lift out. The heart is
surrounded by a membranous sack called the pericardium – this should be carefully
removed. Also part of the esophagus will be connected to the heart and should be
removed.
Remember that arteries are usually red because they carry oxygenated blood away
from the heart and veins are blue because they are deoxygenated blood back to the
heart. The pulmonary veins and arteries are the exception. Pulmonary arteries are blue
because they are carrying the blood to the lungs to receive oxygen and pulmonary
veins carry the oxygen rich blood back to the heart. (In your cat the arteries and veins
are red and blue because they have colored latex injected into them )