1. Sheep Brain Dissection Observations
Group Members:

2. Below is a list of structures you may be asked to identify on an exam, be prepared to describe the functions of all structures
Cerebellum
Cerebral cortex
Frontal cortex
Parietal cortex
Temporal cortex
Occipital cortex
Corpus callosum
Hypothalamus
Medulla oblongata
Cranial nerves (general)
Meninges
Dura mater
Arachnoid
Pia mater
Optic chiasm
Pons
Spinal cord
Thalamus
Pituitary

3. Recorder: Reader: Hands on:
Part 1: External Observations
Recorder: Reader: Hands on:

4. External observations
Length:
Weight:
Calculate the size of the donor animal:
Describe:
Dura mater:
Arachnoid (not seen):
Pia mater:

5. Record the approximate sizes of the lobes (estimate first volume and then determine % - using total volume as your denominator) how much of the cortex is made up of each lobe
Occipital:
Temporal:
Frontal:
Parietal:
1. Describe the appearance of nerve fibers BEFORE removing the Dura mater:

6. Take a Picture of the Brain from the dorsal view (dura mater removed) and insert below, label all items listed below:
Temporal lobe
Parietal lobe
Cerebellum
Frontal lobe
Spinal cord
Occipital lobe

7. Respond to the following questions:
What does the motor cortex control?
What type of information is processed by the sensory cortex?
How deep is the longitudinal fissure between the 2 hemispheres?
What structure connects these 2 hemispheres of the brain and allows information to be processed by structures in both hemispheres?
Describe the appearance of the cerebellum.
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Describe the appearance of the midbrain structures and the pineal body.
What is the function of the pineal body?

8. Recorder: Reader: Hands on:
Part 2: Ventral Structures
Recorder: Reader: Hands on:

9. Ventral Structures: Take a picture of the brain from the ventral view
Ventral Structures: Take a picture of the brain from the ventral view. Insert below and label all items listed below:
Cerebellum
Pons
Spinal cord
Optic chiasm
Olfactory bulb
Frontal lobe
Occipital lobe
Temporal lobe
Medulla
Pituitary gland

10. Ventral Surface Questions
Describe the appearance of the olfactory bulbs and include the length of these structures.
How does the relative size of these olfactory bulbs compare with those on the human models?
Is the sense of smell more important as a protective and a food-getting sense in sheep or in humans?
Describe the appearance of the optic chiasm.
Explain why signals seen with one eye are processed by the lobe of the opposite side of the brain.
What is the function of the pituitary gland?
Can you distinguish between the end of the medulla and the beginning of the spinal cord?

11. Recorder: Reader: Hands on:
Part 3: Cranial Nerves
Recorder: Reader: Hands on:

12. Cranial Nerves
Describe the appearance of nerve fibers originating on the ventral surface of the brain.
How many sets of nerves are you able to identify on your specimen?
List the nerves you were able to identify.
Why is it so hard to preserve these structures?

13. Recorder: Reader: Hands on:
Part 4: Internal Structures
Recorder: Reader: Hands on:

14. Take a picture of your bisected sheep brain
Take a picture of your bisected sheep brain. Label the items listed below.
Pons
Spinal cord
Occipital lobe
Medulla
Pituitary gland
Frontal lobe
Corpus callosum
Grey matter
Choroid plexus
Hypothalamus
Cerebellum
White matter
Thalamus
Parietal lobe

15. Questions: Internal Structures
Describe the appearance of the corpus callosum.
What is the function of the corpus callosum?
Describe how white and gray matter are arranged in the bisected brain.
What is the white matter?
What is the gray matter?
Describe the appearance of the choroid plexus within the ventricle. What is the function of this structure?
What is the function of the cerebrospinal fluid?
What is the role of the thalamus?
What functions does the hypothalamus regulate?
Describe appearance of the cerebellum and the distribution of white and gray matter in the cerebellum.
What functions are located in the cerebellum?

16. Recorder: Reader: Hands on:
Part 5: Coronal Section
Recorder: Reader: Hands on:

17. Take a picture of the Coronal Section and label the items listed below
Lateral ventricle
Cerebral cortex
Grey matter
White matter
Corpus callosum
Thalamus

18. Clean up Dispose of brain in the plastic bag provided.
Return all equipment clean and dried to the back demo table.
Wipe the table with a Clorox wipe.