Organs of Homeostasis

Brianna Wright – J00551414

Biology Lab – 470

Dr. Wellington K. Ayensu

September 13th, 2012

I. Title of Experiment: Identifying Organs of Homeostasis

II. Objectives:

The objective of this experiment is to identify organs and characteristics of the body.

III. Materials and Methods

Materials consist of the following: predissected rat, dissection tray, dissecting pins or twine, scissors, probe, forceps, and disposable gloves.

The methods are as followed:

1.) Pin the animal to the wax of the dissecting tray by placing the body of the animal face up and inserting the pins through its arms into the wax; then its legs to the wax.

2.) Lift the abdominal skin with the forceps, and cut through it with the scissors. Close the scissor blades and insert them flat under the cut skin. Moving in a cephalad direction, open and close the blades to loosen the skin form the underlying connective tissue and muscle. Now, cut the skin along the body midline, from the pubic region to the lower jaw. Finally, make a lateral cut about halfway down the ventral surface of each limb. Complete the job of freeing the skin with the scissor tips, and pin the flaps to the tray.

3.) Carefully cut through the muscles of the abdominal wall in the pubic region, avoiding the underlying organs. Now, hold and lift the muscle layer with forceps and cut through the muscle layer from the pubic region to the bottom of the rib cage. Make two lateral cuts at the base of the rib cage. A thin membrane attatched to the inferior boundary of the rib cage should be obvious; this is the diaphragm, which separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities. Cut the diaphragm where it attatches to the ventral ribs to loosen the rib cage. Cut through the rib cage on either side. Now lift the ribs to view the contents of the thoracic cavity. Cut across the flap, at the level of the neck, and remove it.

IV. Results

Name | Structure | Location | Function |

skin | | The most superficial...