Download Nerve Tissue Slides Lab Handout

Name ___________________________
Advanced Biology II
Nerve Tissue Microscope Slides Lab
Directions:
Just as we did during our study of Botany, our Anatomy units will include work on microscope slides. Each slide you will
need to draw is listed on this handout and you can find them in the indicated white tray. Make sure to double-check the
name on the slide!
Read the descriptions for each slide, and draw the slide at the indicated power. Remember to label the indicated
structures. Use the references indicated for help with your drawings and labels. If you have any questions about finding
what you are looking for or labeling your drawing, make sure to ask a question so you can be sure.
1. Ox spinal cord motor nerve cells whole smear – Anatomy Tray 1
(Textbook Reference: Figure 25.10a on page 433 and Figure 32.5d on page 546)
(Lab Reference: Page 3)
a. This slide shows many motor neurons. Begin on low power and find an area of the slide with many
neurons. It will look like many dark purple spots – these are the cell bodies. Even at low power, you
should be able to see the nucleus in each one. Move up to 100x power, and draw all the neurons you see
in the view. It is often difficult to tell the difference between dendrites and axons in actual neurons, but
there may be one or two that are fairly obvious. Using one good neuron, label the cell body, trigger zone,
axon, and dendrites.
2. Spinal cord, dorsal root ganglion – Anatomy Tray 1
(Lab Reference: Page 5)
a. This cross section of the spinal cord is so large, you will need to use the stereo microscope to see all of it
at once. The distinction between gray and white matter is difficult to see, but remember that the gray
matter is a “butterfly in the middle” and you can see the slight color difference. This slide also shows the
bundles of nerves that come into the cord, one on the dorsal side and one on the ventral side. Draw the
entire spinal cord you see. Label the gray matter, white matter, central canal, ventral root, dorsal root, and
dorsal root ganglion.