Rat Lab Dissection

Rat Dissection Lab

Rudy the Rat

Eric Witt Trey Floyd Bailey Heltzel

(Insert picture of Rudy)

Purpose: Through the dissection of the rat, our group hopes to experience a hands-on approach to learning the internal anatomy of mammals. Dissection will allow us to see actual anatomical structures instead of viewing pictures or watching videos. Furthermore, over the course of the experiment, we will be able to see the anatomical connections made in the body and how those connections contribute to the physiology of the rat’s bodily functions starting with the tongue and pharynx and ending with the digestive system.

Table of Contents:

Rat Dissection Lab

Title Page

External Features

Abdominal Cavity and Digestive System

Thoracic Cavity

Urinary System

Reproductive System

External Features:

Term | Description | Function | Comparison |

Molars | Small, flat, posterior of the oral cavity, numerous | Used for grinding food down | Humans have a total of 12 molars, same function/description |

Incisors | Large, thin, pointed, anterior mouth, on both superior and inferior ends of the oral cavity | Used for cutting into food, biting | Humans have 8 incisors, four on top and four on bottom, same function/description |

Hard Palate | Anterior 1/3 of mouth, ridges, pinkish color | Separates air from food | Helps with speech, similar to rats it allows food to be chewed while still breathing |

Soft Palate | Posterior 2/3, white ridges, less resistant than hard palate | Play important roles in swallowing and breathing | Innervated by the vagus nerve, same function as rat |

Buccal Cavity | Oral opening of the rat, contains the tongue, teeth, palates, and beginning of the throat | Contributes to taste and the processing of food before it enters the digestive system, opening for breathing | Rat buccal is slightly more slanted and doesn’t open as wide as a humans’, same function |

Tongue | Small, pink, slightly protruding, extends to the...