Kidney Dissection

Materials: ★★★ Requires materials not commonly found in school laboratories
Difficulty: ★★☆ Can be done by science teachers
Safety: ★★☆ Some safety precautions required to perform safely

Categories: Body Systems, Dissections

Alternative titles: Urinary System Structure and Function

Summary

Students examine a preserved mammalian kidney to identify external landmarks and internal structures that move urine from nephrons to the ureter. The dissection links organ anatomy to functions in filtration, fluid balance, and waste removal.

Procedure

Follow instructions provided in the links below.

Links

Kidney Dissection || An Open Book [EDU] - Silvergrass Institute:

Urinary system: Part 3 - Kidney dissection - Marsha Hay:

📄 Mammalian Kidney Dissection - Carolina: https://www.carolina.com/teacher-resources/Interactive/mammalian-kidney-dissection/tr10992.tr?srsltid=AfmBOooAXvCTSQVQXJPRHnH-P5fksXAUz7IMB2ma0zXFuTjXGu1KftHD

Variations

Compare injected vs. non-injected specimens to visualize vessels and the ureteral pathway.
Dissect kidneys from two different mammals and record similarities and differences in cortex thickness and pyramid number.
Create a flow chart from blood entry to urine exit that includes glomerulus to collecting duct using a model or diagram alongside the specimen.

Safety Precautions

Wear gloves, splash goggles, and a lab coat throughout the activity.
Use scissors as the primary cutting tool; if a scalpel is needed, cut slowly on the tray and away from fingers.
Handle preservatives and tissues in a well-ventilated area; avoid skin and eye contact.
Dispose of tissues as biological waste and blades in approved sharps containers; follow institutional and local regulations.
Disinfect the workspace and tools before and after the lab; wash hands thoroughly.
Keep food and drink out of the lab; tie back long hair and secure loose clothing.

Questions to Consider

What is the function of the renal capsule you observed externally? (It protects the kidney and helps maintain its shape.)
Why is the hilus an important landmark? (It is the entry and exit site for the renal artery, renal vein, and ureter.)
How do cortex and medulla differ in structure and role? (The cortex contains most renal corpuscles and proximal and distal tubules; the medulla contains loops of Henle and collecting ducts that concentrate urine.)
What is the relationship among renal pyramid, papilla, and calyces? (Urine flows from collecting ducts in a pyramid to the papilla, then into a minor calyx, to major calyces, and finally the renal pelvis.)
How does blood flow change between renal artery and renal vein? (Blood enters via the renal artery to be filtered and leaves via the renal vein with wastes removed and composition adjusted.)
Where does urine formation begin and where does it end before leaving the kidney? (It begins in nephrons at the glomerulus and ends in the renal pelvis before draining into the ureter.)