Rat Dissection
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The following
slides are
intended to help
you with dissection
of the rat and then
to review for the
lab practical that
will follow.
Rat Dissection
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Scientific Name:
Rattus norvegicus
Common Name: Rat
Kingdom- Animalia
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum- Vertebrata
Class- Mammalia
Order- Rodentia
RATS
Rat Dissection
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SOURCES
The following web sites were used to obtain various dissection
pictures.
(1) http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/science/biological_sciences/lab
15/biolab15_1.html
(2) http://www.gisbornesc.vic.edu.au/home/jans/home/rat.htm
(3) http://www.biologycorner.com/bio3/rat_guide.html
(4) http://www.biologymad.com/ratphotos/ratphotos.htm
(5) http://www.baa.duke.edu/companat/BAA_289L_2004/heart/Rat/rat_thorax.htm
(6) http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/biog105/images/ratpics/unit6/
(7) http://www.victoriacollege.edu/dept/bio/RatDissection/index.htm
This has an excellent self quiz!
Urogenital Tutorial- http://www.biolsci.monash.edu.au/undergrad/erat/index.html
Rat Dissection
Rats are from the Order Rodentia which means “to gnaw”
Rodents have to constantly be gnawing on things because their incisors, or
front teeth never stop growing.
The gnawing is used by them to help them file down their front teeth.
What do you think happens if you don’t let a rat gnaw?
THIS!!!
Why a rat?
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The rat is a vertebrate,
which means that
many aspects of its
structural organization
are common with all
other vertebrates.
In a way, studying the
rat is like studying a
human.
Rat Dissection
Position your
Rat Ventral
side up (just
like in the
picture) and
determine if it
is male or
female.
SEXING YOUR RAT
Male
Female
Source #4
Rat Dissection
Tie down your rat using the string provided just
like the picture below.
Source #4
Rat Dissection
Use the following diagram to create 3 incisions.
Start with the scalpel to create a small orifice and
complete the incisions using the scissors.
Rat Dissection
Once the
incisions are
made, use
dissecting pins to
pin the skin and
muscular flaps
back.
Source #7
BODY CAVITIES
Rat Dissection
1. The DIAPHRAGM
Divides the ventral
cavity into:
2.
1.
3.
2. THORACIC CAVITY
heart & lungs
3. ABDOMINAL CAVITY
digestive, excretory,
reproductive organs
Rat Dissection
THORACIC
CAVITY
Source #1
Rat Dissection
HEART +
BLOOD
VESSELS
Trachea
Right Superior Vena Cava
Left Superior Vena Cava
Aorta
Atrium
Heart (Ventricles)
Rat Dissection
RESPIRATORY
ORGANS
Source #1
Rat Dissection
RESPIRATORY
ORGANS
Trachea
Cartilage rings
Rat Dissection
1.
2.
3.
4.
Trachea
Heart (Ventricles)
Right Lung
Diaphragm
THORACIC
ORGANS
Rat Dissection
RESPIRATORY
ORGANS
Right Lung
Left Lung
Rat Dissection
HEART
Heart
THORACIC
Rat Dissection
ORGANS
Thymus Gland
Heart
Right Atrium
Ventricles
Rat Dissection
ABDOMINAL
CAVITY
Source #4
Rat Dissection
ABDOMINAL
CAVITY
Source #7
Rat Dissection
DIGESTIVE
ORGANS
Source #1
Rat Dissection
DIGESTIVE
ORGANS
Source #6
Rat Dissection
DIGESTIVE
ORGANS
Source #6
Rat Dissection
DIGESTIVE
ORGANS
Source #1
DIGESTIVE
ORGANS
Rat Dissection
DIGESTIVE
ORGANS
Rat Dissection
Rat Dissection
DIGESTIVE
ORGANS
Source #1
Rat Dissection
DIGESTIVE
ORGANS
Rat Dissection
DIGESTIVE
ORGANS
Source #6
Rat Dissection
DIGESTIVE
ORGANS
Rat Dissection
DIGESTIVE
ORGANS
Small Intestine
Rat Dissection
EXCRETORY
ORGANS
Kidneys
Ureter
Rat Dissection
1. Liver
2. Stomach
3. Pancreas
4. Spleen
5. Small
Intestine
6. Cecum
7. Large
Intestine
ORGANS
1.
3.
2.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Rat Dissection
ORGANS
Rat Dissection
ORGANS
Rat Dissection
ORGANS
Rat Dissection
ORGANS
Rat Dissection
ORGANS
Rat Dissection
ORGANS
FEMALE
REPRODUCTIVE
Rat Dissection
ORGANS
FEMALE
Rat Dissection
UROGENITAL
ORGANS
Kidney
Ovary
Uterus (Left Horn)
Urinary Bladder
Rat Dissection
UROGENITAL
ORGANS
Rat Dissection
UROGENITAL
ORGANS
Female Uterus
With developing
embryos
Embryos!
MALE
REPRODUCTIVE
Rat Dissection
ORGANS
MALE
REPRODUCTIVE
Rat Dissection
ORGANS
Testis
MALE
REPRODUCTIVE
Rat Dissection
ORGANS
Urinary Bladder
Penis
Testis
Review and Quiz Yourself
Rat Dissection
1.
2.
3.
4.
THORACIC CAVITY
Trachea
Heart
Lung
Diaphragm
Source #2
Review and Quiz Yourself
Rat Dissection
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
THORACIC
CIRCULATION
Vein
Artery
Superior Vena
Cava
Aorta
Atrium (right)
Ventricles
Source #2
Review and Quiz Yourself
Rat Dissection
ABDOMINAL
CAVITY
1. Liver
2. Stomach
3. Pancreas
5. Small
Intestines
6. Cecum
7. Urinary
Bladder
Source #2
Review and Quiz Yourself
Rat Dissection
MALE REPRODUCTIVE
ORGANS
2. Urinary Bladder
3. Vas Deferens
4. Epididymis
5. Small Intestines
6. Seminal Vesicle
8. Penis
9. Testis
10.Scrotum
Source #2
Review and Quiz Yourself
Rat Dissection
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE
ORGANS
Stomach
Kidney
Ovary
Oviduct
Uterine Horn
Large Intestine
Urinary Bladder
Source #2
Rat Dissection
Now that you have familiarized yourself with the organs, very
carefully remove the organs and place them on the organ
removal sheet.
Your grade will depend on…
• the completion of the Dissection
Worksheet
• The removal sheet
• The cleanliness of your dissecting
materials and your lab station!
Don’t forget to wash your hands!
Source #7