Dissections of animals

Question 1

Tools

Answer 1

• Sharp to allow clean cuts

Question 1

Sterilise equipment:

Answer 1

Ethanol or heating

Question 2

Purpose of sharp tools for clean cuts:

Answer 2

Structures can be cut open easily.

Question 3

Safety

Answer 3

• Wear lab coat
• Wear gloves

Question 4

Fish dissection:

Answer 4

1. Sterilise with ethanol / heating
2. Identify gills. They are located under the operculum, on both sides of the head.
3. Remove gills. Cut off the operculum and remove gills by cutting through the bone arch.
4. Locate gill filaments
5. Disenfect

Question 5

Dissection of insects?

Answer 5

1. Sterilise equipment
2. Attach the insect to the dissection surface using dissection pins. This is because insects are small and gaseous exchange system can be hard to locate.
3. Remove the exoskeleton by cutting along the abdomen.
4. Fill abdomen area with saline solution. This helps to identify the tracheae as the tubes become grey.
5. Use an optical microscope to examine the tracheae. Can see rings of chitin.
6. Disinfect