Snake Dissection

Students examine both the external and internal anatomy of a snake. The activity demonstrates how a snake’s specialized organs and structures support its ability to swallow prey whole, digest food efficiently, and survive in its environment.

• Follow instructions provided in the links below.

Snake Dissection: Spring 2017 Bio 1407 PM - Scherr Biology:

📄 Snake Dissection Guide - Home Science Tools: https://www.homesciencetools.com/content/reference/DE-GDSNAKE.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOoo33decK0zMh_llO7-mbrayM53piZ8tgPWFSOfGfpNpaQXrSxe4

• Dissect other reptiles for comparison with snakes.
• Create a labeled diagram of the snake’s anatomy after dissection.

• Lab coat and gloves required.
• Use dissection scissors and scalpels carefully to avoid injury.
• Preserve specimens properly and dispose of waste materials according to laboratory guidelines.
• Wash hands thoroughly after handling specimens.

• Why do snakes only have one functional lung? (To save space in their long, narrow bodies.)
• How does the structure of the snake’s jaw help it eat prey larger than its head? (The jaw bones are connected by a stretchy ligament that allows them to spread apart.)
• What role does the Jacobson’s organ play in a snake’s survival? (It interprets scent particles collected by the tongue, helping locate prey and detect predators.)
• How does the function of the snake’s gallbladder support digestion? (It stores bile, which breaks down fats.)
• In what ways is the snake’s three-chambered heart different from a mammal’s four-chambered heart? (It is less efficient at separating oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.)