Shark Dissection Lab
I. Drawing
a. External anatomy- label everything
i. Family, genus, species
ii. key- steps to ID
b. Internal anatomyi. Alimentary canal
ii. Reproductive/excretory system
iii. Respiratory System
iv. Brain
II. Answer all questions on handout. Either staple handout into lab notebook or incorporate answers to
questions as part of your drawings.
QUESTIONS:
1. Cut out the liver. How many lobes does it have?
2. Look at the stomach contents of your shark. What did it eat?
3. Locate the cardiac and pyloric regions of the stomach. Between the stomach and the intestine is
the pylorus. The pylorus is a constriction between the stomach and the intestine. This
constriction has a muscle, called the pyloric sphincter, which controls movement of food from
stomach to intestine. Examine these structures, and make sure to draw and label them in your
notebook.
4. There are two parts to the intestine: the duodenum and the ileum. Cut open the ileum and find
the spiral valve. What do you think is the function of the spiral valve?
5. Locate the spleen and the pancreas. What are their functions?
6. Look at the heart and gills of the shark. Draw the heart. Identify the atrium and ventricle of the
heart. Find the conus arteriosus and sinus venosus. What are their functions? What do the gills
look like?
7. Find the kidneys. What do they look like?
8. Find the rectal gland. What is its function?
9. Is your shark male or female?
10. Look at the brain. Find the olfactory bulbs, draw and label them, and describe them.