Rabbit Dissection

The very first thing our group did was prepare for the dissection. We watered off excess formaldehyde and dye on the outside of the rabbit, layered our work area with newspaper, and put on the provided protection. To begin dissection, we wanted the rabbit almost entirely skinless to expose the muscles underneath. In order to properly understand the innerworkings of a rabbit’s muscular system we referenced a small handbook and a further detailed cat manual. To prove knowledge of the muscular system; we proceeded to isolate and identify 20 muscles on both the ventral and ventral sides of the rabbit. After our examination of the outer layers, we broke into the thoracic cavity. The hardest challenge faced was the cracking of the rib cage; in order

to gain access to the main components of the circulatory system: heart, aorta, and vena cava. Once again referencing the supplied manuals to record and present thoracic organs. We chose not to further explore the pulmonary system as we were pressed for time.

Our dissection continued inferiorly towards the digestive viscera. The first thing we did was attempt to unravel the organized bundle of intestines, taking note to its impressive length. The main problem faced was the large amount of connective tissue sticking said organ together. Especially towards where the small intestine was attached to the stomach. It took patience and determination to gather something that resembled a long tube. That is the point when we discovered the caecum: a section of intestine humans do not possess. The cecum in something mainly needed for herbivores. It stores cellulose to be broken down by bacteria. That job in humans was handed to our version: the appendix. Our group decided to do the extra credit day. With our main goals being further exploration of the heart, and peering into the cranium. We had our best luck with the heart. We were able to examine the four ventricles and atriums; then trace the aorta and vena cava to their respected branches. We faced a problem when it came time to examine the brain. Cutting into the thin skull was still surprisingly difficult. It required the use of a bone saw over our fragile

scalpels. I ended up doing more peeling and breaking than sawing. As the skull was coming off in many fibrous layers. Our first mistake was cutting too far superior to the brain. A rabbit’s brain is situated far inferior to the eyes unlike a human. Our group was never able to fully remove and clean the brain due to another constraint on time. I think we handled fairly well as a team. Each one of us quickly fell into our respective roles and stayed there throughout the dissection. Me and Vidal focused on the hands-on dissection as it required more than two hands. Alex and Olivia took documentation of what we were doing and organized the folder. What I was surprised to learn is how tough an animal body really is. I expected it to be fragile and easy to dismantle with our instruments but even with the sharp scalpel and surgical clamps just the connective tissue was an obstacle. If a rabbit and a human are even somewhat comparable or scalable I have learned how resilient a species we can bee, especially in injuries to the head. With as much of a challenge as it was to intentionally break open the cranium, it would take quite a large amount of force to do the same in an accident scenario. I feel as if this was the best thing we did all year to build upon my textbook knowledge of anatomy. I was able to get hands on with a full-sized mammal. Tracing dyes throughout the circulatory system, chasing the path of food down the digestive viscera, and labeling major muscles were of the most beneficial to my understanding of anatomy. Doing a full-scale dissection is most certainly the best way to wrap up a year in anatomy.