Category: Anatomy
The sheep brain shown below has the frontal and parietal lobe of the cerebrum pinned. The frontal lobe is responsible for cognitive functions such as learning and decision making. The parietal lobe is involved in how the brain processes and interprets sensory information. The cerebellum is pinned also, …
The liver is a large organ located at the top of the abdominal cavity and divided into several lobes. It is only found in vertebrates and it has several functions: detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of bile and other chemicals needed for digestion. Bile produced by the liver …
The brain stem of the sheep is located on the ventral surface of the brain. Visible features include the olfactory lobe, optic chiasma, pituitary stalk (infundibulum), midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata and the spinal cord. The image below shows the brain of the sheep with the dura mater removed.
The radial notch is found on the ULNA and articulates with the head of the radius to form a pivot joint. It is located to the lateral side of the coronoid process. The coronoid and olecranon process articulate with the humerus to form the hinge joint of the …
Learning the names of the tarsals can be challenging. If you can locate the navicular bone, which articulates with talus, then the cuneiform bones are easy to locate. Navicular means “boat”, so just think of the three cuniform bones as people on the boat. The one closest to …
An illustration of a male and female pelvis showing the differences between the shape of the ileum, the angle between the right and left ischium (pubic arch). The sacrum in females is also much wider. These features create a larger opening in the pelvis, an adaptation for childbirth.
The placenta is connected to the umbilical cord and attaches to the wall of the uterus. This organ allows for nutrient exchange and the removal of wastes. The placenta develops when the blastocyst (embryo) implants into the uterine wall. Usually this attachment occurs at the superior end of …
Most anatomy textbooks begin with descriptions of body cavities and body regions. These terms are important for identifying the location of structures. For example, you will fund the lungs within the thoracic cavity, which is the region superior to the diaphragm. The stomach and digestive organs are …
An “in situ” view is one that leaves the structure in it’s original place. In the view below, the heart of the cat has been cut to reveal the left and right ventricle. Note that the left ventricle has a much thicker muscular wall. This is because it …
To view the internal structures of the kidney, a coronal section can be applied. This type of cut will separate the front half of the structure from the back half. The inner area is called the medulla and is made of individual renal pyramids, which may not …
The spleen is involved in the immune system and is responsible for removing old blood cells. It sits under the rib cage in humans on the left side of the abdomen. In the cat, the spleen is an elongated structure that is often reddish-brown in color on preserved …
This x-ray was taken by a dentist, showing two wisdom teeth (white arrows) positioned below the gum line. Most people have three permanent sets of molars: the first set usually appears at around the age of 6, and then the 2nd set appears at around the age …
In February of 2016, model Katie May died suddenly after a visit to a chiropractor. The official cause of death was “vertebral artery dissection.” During spinal manipulation, the artery which supplies blood to brain was damaged. The brain’s arteries circle the brain around the pituitary gland consisting …
The esophageal hiatus is the opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes and then enters the stomach. It can be viewed by pushing aside the lungs and heart within the thoracic cavity and tracing the esophagus to the diaphragm. The inferior vena cava also can …
Answers: A= Renal Vein B= Right Kidney C= Inferior Vena Cava D = Urinary Bladder E= Renal Artery AB = Right Kidney AC = Abdominal Aorta AD = Ureter AE = Urethra
Heart models can be useful for learning the structure of the heart, particularly when paired with a dissection. They can be purchased at a reasonable cost at Amazon, usually mounted in a way that you can see the external and internal anatomy. When doing the dissection of …
The small intestine connects to the colon where a valve regulates the movement of food. The ileocecal valve is named for the ileum and the cecum it connects to. The cecum is a pouch-like section of the large intestine that is the first part of the colon, also called …
The gall bladder is a structure found under the liver of many vertebrates, including humans, where it stores bile that is secreted by the liver. Bile is transported to the duodenum through the bile duct; its main function is to aid in the digestion of fats. In humans, …
