Rabbit Dissection

Yesterday, Dr. Sansone was kind enough to lead my Biology class through a small mammal dissection (details here). He’d brought in five New Zealand White rabbits (2 male and 3 female) that had been raised for market by an Amish family in northern Missouri.

Over our two-hour class period, we had time to examine the organs in the abdominal and thoracic cavities in some detail. Students had been prepared with group reading assignments of the different organ systems based on the anatomy outline.

Dr. Sansone points out a rabbit's ovaries. A kidney is visible to the lower right.
Dr. Sansone points out a rabbit’s ovaries. A kidney is visible to the lower right.

After the dissection we removed the pelts and froze them for later preservation. We also froze the carcases for later. I’ve convinced Mr. E. that cooking them would be a great interim activity. Mr. E. is a bit of an epicure, so it did not take much convincing.

Notes

Only one student declined to participate in the dissection for ethical reasons. About half of the class declined to observe the harvesting. Four students volunteered to assist in the harvesting, two of whom were not even in my biology class. They were seniors. One of them, P., had done it before and demonstrated the procedure for us.

An Outline for Anatomy

Concept map for the study of anatomy.
Concept map for the study of anatomy. This diagram will be used for the introductory lesson.

Because we have the opportunity to get a few rabbits, we’re starting Biology this year with anatomy. In the first week, our discussions will be based around the rabbit dissection so we’ll be focusing on the systems where the organs are easiest to find: the fluid regulation/excretory, respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, and digestive systems.