Rat Dissection Notes
Rat Dissection
Introduction
- The rat (Rattus norvegicus) dissection provides a detailed look at mammalian anatomy.
- Builds on previous dissections (grass frog, fetal pig) from earlier biology courses.
- Emphasizes a more in-depth understanding of mammalian structures.
Classification of the Rat
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Rodentia
- Family: Muridae
- Genus: Rattus
- Species: norvegicus
Lab Instructions and Expectations
- Lab books and diagrams are supplemental; follow the lab directions.
- Students are responsible for locating all structures.
- Exhaust all possibilities in attempting to locate structures before asking for assistance.
- Discuss and observe other students' specimens for comparison.
- Be sure to look at animals of the opposite sex.
- Specimens are preserved and double-injected (red latex in arteries, blue latex in veins).
Key Themes
- Similarity to Human Anatomy: For every structure observed in the rat, identify the equivalent structure in the human body and its location.
- Relationships Among Organs: Pay attention to how organs and organ systems are related structurally and functionally.
For Each Structure, Determine:
- What organ system it belongs to.
- How it relates to other components.
- Its general function.
- Its specific function (if applicable).
Rat External Anatomy Dissection