KAP Biology --> Rat Dissection Vocabulary

Anterior

towards the head

Posterior

toward the tail

dorsal

toward the backbone

ventral

toward the belly

lateral

toward the side

Medial

toward the midline

proximal

lying near point of reference

Distal

lying further from point of reference

Planes

look at rat packet for more info

Nostrils

allows air into trachea

Vibrissae

whiskers; sensitive to touch and changes in air pressure

pinnae

external ears; senses sound

forlimbs

used for grasping and holding

hindlimbs

used for moving(climbing, running, jumping, etc)

digits

finger-like projections on each limb(5 on each)

digital pads

thickenings of skin on tips and bases of digits

foot pads

thickenings of skin on soles of each foot

urethral aperture

opening for release of urine in females

vaginal aperature

female genital opening for reproduction; leads to vagina and uteri

scrotum (same thing as scrotal sac later)

double pouch containing the two testes

mammary papillae

12 nipples on females to nurse younglings

tail

balances the rat

esophagus

used to pass food from the mouth to the stomach (dorsal to trachea)

molars

teeth for chewing

incisors

teeth for biting

diaphragm

muscular wall that moves to fill and empty the lungs of air(separates the thoracic cavity and abdominal cavity)

trachea

windpipe; leads from the neck to the lungs

larynx

voice box; located at the top of the trachea

lungs

4 lobes; location of gas exchange

heart -→ atria

sac-like portions of heart that receives the blood

heart -→ ventricles

muscular portion of heart that pumps blood out

thymus

establishes immune system and T-cell development

caecum

sac in the lower third of the body where the small intestine becomes the large intestine; digests cellulose of wood (similar to the appendix in humans)

rectum

tube that extends from the large intestine to the anus or exterior of the rat; temporarily stores feces

liver

regulates blood glucose; makes bile to help digest fat

bile

digestive juice; helps break down fat molecules

small intestine

where nutrient absorption takes place

large intestine

removes water from undigested foods; prepares feces for defecation

mesentery

thin membranous tissue that holds organs in place

pancreas

secretes insulin into bloodstream; releases digestive enzymes into small intestine;

spleen

reservoir for blood; filters blood; manufactures white blood cells; destruction of blood cells (located on the left side of the rat near the stomach)

cavities

posterior or anterior to diaphragm

kidneys

excretory organ; removes waste from blood

ureters

transports urine from kidneys to urinary bladder

Urinary Bladder

temporary storage of urine

urethra

carries urine from bladder to exterior

ovaries

female gonads that produce female gametes and female sex hormones

uterine horns (uteri)

site of rat embryo development; allows for multiple births

Testes (located in scrotal sac)

male gonads that produce sperm and male sex hormones

Prostate Gland

secretions responsible for the activation of sperm

Penis

discharges urine and sperm

hard palate

anterior portion of palate supported by bone

Soft Palate

posterior of palate; more muscular

vas deferens

moves sperm from the epididymis to the urethra

seminal vesicles

produce fluids that turn into semen