Anatomy and Physiology
Shark Intro and Dissection
Objectives: Refresh understanding of anatomical and regional terminology; refresh skills of following
dissection instructions, diagramming, labeling, and proper use of anatomy tools; refresher on how to
prepare a wet mount, refresher using both microscopes and dissecting scopes; to prepare for the
dissection of more complex and ethically complicated species, learn the evolutionary history of sharks and
make connections to the anatomy of human.
So, why are we dissecting sharks? Well, first of all, because sharks are very cool. But there are other
reasons: While sharks are relatively simplistic organisms they do possess many of the same body systems
as humans. In addition to simply dissecting these magnificent creatures I am going to ask you to perform
some general dissection lab procedures and some anatomical terminology definitions. Your final
assignment and exit ticket for the semester is to produce a thorough, accurate, and meaningful dissection
journal that includes all of the criteria I preset to you. In addition, I am challenging you to answer the main
question listed above by addressing the following smaller, but no less significant questions:
Questions
-What is the evolutionary history of sharks? (How long have they been around? How much have they
changed?)
-What are some interesting facts about the anatomy and physiology of sharks?
-What is the current status of shark populations and the conservation enacted to preserve them?
-What are some of the comparisons that can be made between the anatomy and physiology of sharks
and humans (You may want to include some references to cats here too)
-What current health and medicine research is being done with sharks?(past or present For example: Ho
do sharks maintain homeostasis?)
A. Anatomical Terminology Refresher:
In order to begin please write the meanings of the following terms:
AnteriorPosteriorProximalDistalSuperiorInferiorLateralSuperficialDeepMedialSagittalCoronalFrontalDorsalVentralCaudalCranialBrachialPelvicScapularCloacaAxialAppendicular-
B. Shark Dissection: External Anatomy
I. External Anatomy
Prepare a wet mount and view it under the microscope. Draw it. What is a placoid scale, and why are they
shaped that way?
Now draw the following external features:
Head
Fins
Tail
Cloacal aperture
Gills
Eyes
Nostrils
What are the ampullae of lorenzini? Where are they? What do they do?
Now, please go through the following systems and draw and label them. Once you are
done, grab a dissecting kit and make it happen.
I. External Anatomy (Figures 1, 2)
II. Skeletal System (Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
III. Muscular System (Figures 10, 11, 12, 13)
IV. Digestive and Respiratory System (Figures 15, 16)
V. Circulatory System (Figures 18, 19, 21)
VI. Urogenital System (Figures 23, 26)
VII. Nervous System (Figures 28, 29, 31)