Rat Practical: terms and functions

nares

inhalation of air into lungs, smelling of odors

vibrassae

serve various purposes, but are most commonly used to locate food

pinnae

directs sound waves into the ear canal and to the tympanic membrane

incisors

highly specialized teeth for gnawing

hard palate

the bony roof of the mouth that separates air from food

soft palate

soft roof of the mouth responsible for closing off the nasal passages during the act of swallowing, and also for closing off the airway

jaws

structures used for grasping and chewing food

urogenital opening

passage through which waste products and reproductive fluids come out of the body

penis

deposits sperm in the vagina of the female

anus

opening from the rectum to the outside that deposits solid waste from the colon

vaginal opening

receives the penis of the male

tail

used for balance when climbing

mammary glands

organ in female mammals that produces milk to feed young offspring

diaphragm

contracts and relaxes during inhalation and exhalation so as to accommodate and expel air from the body

esophagus

passes food from the pharynx to the stomach

stomach

stretches and stores meals, begins digestion of food

liver

metabolic function, secrets bile, destroys old red blood cells

ribs

long curved bones which form the cage; shield internal organs of the body from any type of damage and also give a certain form of structure or formation to the body.

thymus

assists with the maturation of the immune system in young rats

lungs

carry out gas exchange

heart

pumps blood around the body, both to the lungs and back and to the rest of the body and back

pericardium

A membrane covering the heart; protects and lubricates the heart

ventricles

large chambers that collect and expel blood received from an atrium

vena cava

collects blood from the major veins and returns it to the right atrium

anterior vena cava

carries blood from the lower part of the body to the heart

posterior vena cava

returns blood to the heart from the head, neck and the upper limb

pancreas

glandular organ in the digestive system and endocrine system of vertebrates; produces hormones and releases them into the blood

small intestine

part of the gastrointestinal tract following the stomach and followed by the large intestine; where much of the digestion and absorption of food takes place

large intestine

Resorbs water and forms feces

mesentery

sheets of connective tissue that attach organs to the body wall; provides security and sustenance by keeping the organs in their place, in addition to protecting them for injury and rubbing against each other

spleen

lymphatic organ that filters and stores blood to prevent blood loss and infection

kidneys

bean shaped organs that serve several essential regulatory roles in vertebrate animals; essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid-base balance, and regulation of blood pressure

ureter

tubes made of smooth muscle fibers that propel urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder

bladder

organ that collects urine excreted by the kidneys before disposal by urination

uterine horns

the points of attachment for the round ligament of the uterus

oviduct

Conducts the egg from the ovary to the uterus

ovary

Releases the egg and female sex hormone

scrotum

holds testes

horny scales/pads

gathers sensory information / provides protection

auditory meatus

ear canal

nicitating membrane

drawn across the eye for protection

epiglottis

flap of tissue that prevents food from entering the trachea during swallowing

trachea

tube that carries air to and from the lungs

Larynx

the voice box that contains vocal cords and is involved in producing sound

rectum

temporarily stores feces