Experiment 4 Topic: Dissection of the mammalian respiratory system

Theory: The main organs involved in breathing are the lungs, trachea, diaphragm, ribcage and the intercostals muscles. Contraction and expansion of the intercostals muscles and the muscles of the diaphragm will move the diaphragm and the ribcage so that the volume of the thorax changes. This then will result to the flow of air moving into the lung or out from the lung.

Objective: 1. To train students to dissect small mammals. 2. To train students how to use dissecting instruments. 3. To increase students skill in displaying, drawing and labeling respiratory organs. 4. To enable students to examine the structures of the main organs involved in respiration (lungs, trachea, diaphragm, rib cage, and intercostals muscles) 5. To increase students understanding of the process of gas exchange in animals.

Apparatus and materials

: Dissecting instruments, dissecting board, hands lens x 10, transparent plastic ruler, thread and rat.

Procedure 1. A rat is pinned to the dissecting board with the ventral surface uppermost. 2. A mid-ventral incision is made through the skin and the skin is cut forwards as far as the lower jaw and then backwards to the anus. 3. The skin is held with a pair of forceps, and then the connective tissues are cut away between the skin and the body wall as far as possible around the animals body. 4. The ventral and lateral thoracic walls is cut away to expose the thoracic cavity. 5. The thymus gland is removed. 6. Then, muscles and tissues of the neck is cut away to expose the trachea and larynx. 7. Larynxs upper side is cut. The connective tissues attached to the trachea are cut off. 8. Heart, lungs, trachea, esophagus and larynx are removed together. 9. The esophagus is carefully separated from the heart. Then, the larynx, trachea and lungs are pinned to the board.

Results:

The respiratory organs of a rat

Question: 1. (a) How many pairs of ribs does this animal has? 13 pairs. (b) How does the rib cage function during gas exchange in this animal? During the inhalation, the rib cage expands, causing a negative pressure change in the abdominal cavity, which can only be relieved by letting air in the lungs.

During the exhalation, the rib cage contracts, causing a positive pressure change, which is relieved by expelling air from the lungs

2. (a) Describe the appearance and characteristic of diaphragm.

The diaphragm is a thin layer and dome-shaped sheet of muscle .It has central tendon that is attached to the ribs and vertebrae of the spine.

(b) What is the importance of this characteristic of the diaphragm in relation its function during gas exchange?

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Diaphragm separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity. The diaphragm plays a major role in the breathing movements inspiration and exhalation. During inhalation, the volume of gas in thoracic cavity increase but the air pressure decrease. This cause the diaphragm lowers and flattens and the lungs enlarge and expand. During exhalation, the volume of gas in thoracic cavity decrease but the air pressure increase. This cause the diaphragm returns to its original dome shape and the lungs do not expand. 3. Describe the appearance of the left and right lungs.

The right lung is larger. The left lung has to share the space with the heart. Right lung has four lobes. The left lung has one lobe. The texture of the lungs that is seen is chewy like a sponge, may be squeezing

4. Cut a part of lung. Examine the cut surface using a hand lens. Describe what you can see with regard to the texture of the lung.

The lungs of mammals have a spongy and soft texture and are honeycombed with epithelium, having a much larger surface area in total than the outer surface area of the lung itself.

5. Measure the length of the trachea to the nearest mm, from the larynx to the point where it branches out into two bronchi. 20mm

Discussion: The lungs, diaphragm, ribcage and the intercostals muscles are the main organs in breathing. During inhalation, the external intercostals muscles contract while the internal intercostals muscles relax. This action causes the rib cage to move upwards and outwards. At the same time the diaphragm contract. The diaphragm lower and flatten. These two actions cause the volume of thoracic cavity to increase, and the pressure decrease. High atmospheric pressure on the outside forces the air into the lungs. During exhalation, the external intercostals muscles relax while the internal intercostals muscles contract. This action causes the rib cage to move downwards and inwards. At the same time, the diaphragm muscle relaxes. The diaphragm lower and flatten. These two actions cause the volume of thoracic cavity to decrease, and the pressure increase. High atmospheric pressure inside the lungs forces the air out of the lungs.