Mouse 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: Dissections
Alternative titles: Exploring Mammalian Anatomy Through Mouse Dissection
Summary
This dissection explores the external and internal anatomy of a mouse, focusing on identifying major organs from the digestive, respiratory, circulatory, and urogenital systems. The activity highlights the structural features of mammalian organs and their functions.
Procedure
Links
Variations
Compare mouse anatomy with rat anatomy to note differences such as the presence of a gallbladder.
Use diagrams to trace digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems.
Conduct a comparative study with other vertebrate dissections (frog, bird, or fish).
Safety Precautions
Gloves and a lab coat required.
Handle scissors and scalpels with care; always cut away from yourself.
Pin back tissues carefully to avoid injury and damage to organs.
Treat the specimen with respect—it was once a living animal.
Dispose of the specimen and waste according to lab procedures.
Wash hands and disinfect tools and trays thoroughly after the dissection.
Questions to Consider
What is the largest organ in the mouse’s anatomy and why? (The intestines, as they provide surface area for nutrient absorption and water extraction.)
Why do rats lack a gallbladder while mice have one? (Rats produce bile continuously due to their larger liver and diet, whereas mice rely on bile storage in the gallbladder.)
How does blood flow through the mammalian circulatory system? (It is a closed, double-loop system: oxygenated blood flows from lungs to the left heart and body, while deoxygenated blood returns to the right heart and lungs.)
What adaptive advantages do mammals have compared to other vertebrates? (Live birth instead of egg-laying, fur for insulation, and four strong limbs for stability and mobility.)
How are the circulatory and respiratory systems protected in mammals? (By the ribcage, muscles, and skin which provide structural support, cushioning, and barriers to damage and infection.)