Practical Task: Kidney Dissection

Aim:
To develop a better understanding of the excretory system by dissecting
a kidney from a model animal.

Materials:
Dissecting board Scissors
Newspaper Disposable gloves
Scalpel Disposable apron
Tweezers Kidney

Method:
Part A
1. Put on safety gear (disposable gloves, disposable apron, safety glasses) and ensure that long hair is tied up.
2. Collect newspaper from the trolley and cover your bench with the newspaper, ensuring that they are no gaps.
3. Collect a dissecting board and wrap it up in several layers of newspaper, then place the board on top of the
newspaper that has been layered on the bench.
4. Collect tweezers and scissors and place them on your bench.
5. Read through the discussion questions to ensure that you collect all of the required information.
6. Raise your hand to indicate to your teacher that you are ready to receive a kidney and scalpel.
7. Place your whole kidney on the dissecting board and examine it. Look for any tubes entering or leaving the
kidney. It may be possible to identify three tubes: the ureter, renal artery and renal vein.
8. In the results section, draw a scientific diagram of the external structure of the kidney. Label the ureter, renal
artery and renal vein (or if they are no vessels present, label the openings where they would enter the kidney).
9. Using a ruler, measure the dimensions (length and width) of the kidney without touching the kidney with the
ruler. Include these measurements on your diagram.

Part B
1. Use the scalpel to cut the kidney in half lengthwise, starting at the side that
contains the ureter. You should be able to open up the kidney and view two
halves that are mirror images of each other.
2. With aid of the diagrams on this page, identify the renal cortex, renal pelvis
and medulla of the kidney.
3. Note the colour and texture of the three different areas.
4. In the results section, draw a scientific diagram of the cut surface of the kidney.
Label the renal cortex, renal pelvis and medulla of the kidney, as well as any
other structures that you are able to identify.

Safety:
Major Risks Injury Prevention
Results:
Scientific Diagram of External Structure of Kidney
Diagram should be completed in pencil without any shading. Labels should include a ruled, horizontal line and clear writing.

Scientific Diagram of Cut Surface of Kidney

Diagram should be completed in pencil without any shading. Labels should include a ruled, horizontal line and clear writing.

Discussion Questions:
1. What animal did this kidney come from and how does its size compare to a human kidney?
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2. What was the colour of the:

(a) membrane covering the kidney?

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(b) external tissue of the kidney?

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3. Differentiate between the functions of each of the following tubes:

Renal artery

Renal vein

Ureter

4. What is one way that you could easily tell the difference between the renal artery and the renal vein?
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5. Complete the table below based on your observations:

Structure Colour Texture Function

Renal cortex

Renal pelvis

Medulla

6. Using the Internet, compare and contrast the urinary tract of this animal with that of a human.
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Conclusion:

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