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Kingdom Animalia
As an introduction to the vertebrates, you will examine the body systems of the rat and in a later laboratory, study selected systems of the frog for comparison.
In studying the vertebrates, it is important to realize that many aspects of Zoology depend on anatomical relationships. However, the knowledge of structure alone has only limited meaning if it is not interpreted in terms of function. Although the emphasis may at times be placed on observation of anatomical structures, it is vital that students consider the function of these structures.
Organization of Laboratory Exercises
In order to understand the dissections and locate structures in subsequent labs, you MUST be familiar with the following Descriptive Terms:
| Anterior | pertaining to the front or head end |
| Caudal | concerned with the tail region of the animal |
| Cephalic | concerned with the head region |
| Distal | pertaining to the farthest point of attachment |
| Dorsal | referring to the back or uppermost side |
| External and Internal | outer and inner |
| Frontal Section | a longitudinal, horizontal section which parallels dorsal and ventral surfaces |
| Lateral | at the side of the body or situated to either side of the midline |
| Longitudinal Axis | a lengthwise axis from head to tail end of an animal |
| Medial | at the midline of the body |
| Median Plane | a vertical longitudinal plane that extends from the ventral to dorsal surfaces (Produces a sagittal section). |
| Peripheral | region away from centre |
| Posterior | pertaining to the tail or hind end |
| Proximal | pertaining to the region near the body |
| Sagittal Section | a longitudinal section through the median vertical plane |
| Superficial | region near the surface |
| Transverse Section | a section made at right angles to the sagittal and frontal section |
| Ventral | referring to the underside. The opposite to dorsal. |
NOTE: All position terms such as "anterior", "right", etc., are with reference to the specimen's anterior end, right side, etc.
Examine an image of the rat showing a few of these terms
