Download External Anatomy:

Dissections
External Anatomy:
Identify nares, eyes,
ears, whiskers, and
genitalia.
Determine the sex of
the mouse.
What type of tissue
is visible from
external view?
Let’s cut
something
Lay mouse on dorsal side
(back); ventral side (belly) up.
Use scalpel to make a small
incision above the genitalia.
Use scissors and pull away
from mouse cutting towards
the head up to the mouth.
Remove arms and legs.
Remove the skin and
examine the skeletal
muscle tissue.
Remove the skeletal
muscle and view the
connective tissue that
makes up the bone.
Observe the ball-andsocket joint of the hip
and the hinge joint of
the knee.
“Gimme an “I”
Use scissors to make
an incision from arm to
arm and then from leg
to leg. (Should look like
a capital I)
Examine layers of
epithelial tissue (skin)
and skeletal muscle
tissue.
Identify the liver and
diaphragm (skeletal
muscle tissue).
Goodbye liver,
hello digestive
system
Remove the liver
identify the stomach,
spleen, esophagus
(pointer), small
intestine, and large
intestine. (Identify
smooth muscle
tissue and epithelial
tissue)
Cut the esophagus
above the stomach and
above the rectum and
remove the digestive
tract.
stomach
small
intestine
rectum
In the female,
identify the uterus
(smooth muscle
tissue) and fallopian
tubes.
Stretch out the
intestine and
measure in cm.
Identify the kidneys
and ureters. Locate
adipose tissue on
the ureters.
Remove the
kidneys. Cut the
kidney in half and
examine.
Thoracotomy
Time
Open thoracic cavity
by using scissors to
cut midline through
sternum, then clear
ribs without cutting
heart/lungs.
Examine the heart
(cardiac muscle
tissue), lungs
(epithelial tissue),
trachea (connective
tissue), and aorta
(smooth muscle and
connective tissue).
You’re a, heart
breaker…
Remove the heart
and identify the atria
and ventricles.
Left Atrium
ventricle
Flip mouse over to
view dorsal side
(back).
Use scissors to
remove skin from
back.
Locate spinal
column in center of
back.
Remove mouse head
and locate spinal cord
(nervous tissue) in spinal
column.
Bonus points
Remove the eye.
Follow the spinal
cord, use scissors to
remove brain and
identify nervous
tissue.
Use scissors to cut
tail and identify
nervous tissue in
spinal cord.
Clean-up
Put mouse remains
in trash bucket.
Wash all dissecting
tools and place on
paper towel to dry.
Wash out dissecting
pan.
Wipe down
counters.
Wash hands