Dissection of the Rabbit

Dissection of the Rabbit

Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Unit 1: External Anatomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Unit 2: The Skeletal System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Unit 3: The Muscular System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Unit 4: The Digestive System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Unit 5: The Respiratory System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Unit 6: The Circulatory System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Unit 7: The Urogenital System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Unit 8: The Nervous System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Rabbit illustration on pg. 1 ©DILEEP/Shutterstock.com

©2012 Carolina Biological Supply Company Printed in USA.

 Introduction
Until the early 20th century, rabbits were
classified as rodents; however, they differ from
rodents in several ways and are now classed in
the order Lagomorpha, with hares and pikas.
The majority of domestic rabbits, including
your dissection specimen, are derived from the
European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus. In the
wild, this species lives in groups that form
elaborate systems of burrows referred to as
warrens. Domestic rabbits have been either
accidentally or purposely introduced to many
habitats in which they then over-proliferated,
disrupting the native ecosystem.
Midsagittal plane
Anterior
Frontal
plane
Proximal
Distal
Transverse
plane
Figure 1. Body planes and directions.
As you progress through this investigation of
rabbit anatomy, consider how the form of each
particular structure is appropriate for its
function. For example, the rabbit’s sharp
incisors enable it to cut the herbaceous plants
that it eats and to gnaw through roots when
burrowing. Correlating form with function is a
part of any in-depth anatomical study. Before
you begin the dissection, read the entire
procedure carefully and familiarize yourself
with the following list of commonly used terms.
Important terms are boldfaced if they appear in
a corresponding figure.
Posterior
Dorsal
Ventral
Lateral
Medial
1
Safety
Wear safety glasses or goggles, gloves, and a
lab apron when dissecting the specimen.
Perform the dissection only on the dissection
tray. Follow proper hygiene practices before,
during, and after the lab.

Direction or Plane Definition

Lateral Toward the right or left side

Medial Toward the midline

Proximal Near or toward the point of reference

Distal Away from the point of reference

Dorsal Toward the back

Ventral Toward the belly

Anterior (cranial) Toward the head

Posterior (caudal) Toward the tail

Superficial Toward or along the surface

Deep A significant distance below the surface

2
 Unit 1
External Anatomy
Lay your specimen on its ventral surface.
Examine its exterior carefully. Note that the
rabbit can be divided into three sections, the
head, trunk, and tail. The head is separated from
the trunk by the neck.
Note the hair. The presence of hair, at least at
some point in their development, is a
distinguishing feature of mammals. Hair serves a
vital role in thermoregulation in most species of
mammals and also protects the skin. Specialized
hairs, vibrissae, or whiskers, are typically found
Tail
Trunk
Figure 2. The three sections of the rabbit
3
on the face. They are used as part of the rabbit’s
sensory system and help the animal gather
information about its surroundings. Examine the
head to view the vibrissae.
While examining the head, note the other
sensory structures. The rabbit’s eyes are large
and set laterally on the head. Lateral positioning
increases field of vision but reduces depth
perception. Also due to the placement of the
eyes, a rabbit has a small blind spot directly in
front of its face. This eye positioning is common
Head
in animals that have many predators. Compared
with humans, rabbits tend to be farsighted—their
focus is worse on things that are nearby but
better on things at a distance (such as
approaching predators). Rabbits tend to be
crepuscular (most active near twilight and dawn)
and have good vision in low light conditions.
Protecting the eyes are upper and lower lids and
a partial nictitating membrane located in the
medial corner of the eye. Because it is
transparent, the nictitating membrane allows for
some protection and moistening without as great
of a loss of vision as blinking of the eyelids. In
many animals, including some mammals, a
complete nictitating membrane can cover the
entire front of the eye. Humans retain only a
vestige of the nictitating membrane.
The nares, or nostrils, are not only the
openings to the respiratory system but are also
crucial to the sensory system, allowing rabbits
to gather olfactory information from their
environment. The nares are enclosed by lateral
folds which radiate from the median cleft.
The external part of the ear, the pinna (pl.,
pinnae), directs sound waves into the auditory
meatus, or ear canal. A rabbit can hear a
greater range of frequencies than a human. The
pinnae function also in thermoregulation; in
fact, the surface area of the ears may occupy as
Vibrissae
Eye
Nictitating
membrane
Nares
Mouth
Incisors
Figure 3. The external anatomy of the rabbit’s head
4
much as 10 percent of the overall surface area
of a rabbit.
Open the mouth of the rabbit and examine its
dentition. Like a rodent, a rabbit has incisors
that are open-rooted and grow continuously
throughout the animal’s life. Unlike a rodent,
a rabbit has four incisors in its upper jaw. The
smaller pair behind the front incisors are referred
to as peg teeth. As you examine the dentition,
consider the rabbit’s diet. Observe the sensory
organs located in the mouth, the taste buds.
Rabbits have a good sense of taste. Like humans,
rabbits can taste the four basic categories of
flavors: sweet, sour, bitter, and salt. It is not yet
known if they are able to taste the umami flavor.
The sense of taste helps a rabbit determine
potential toxicity and nutritional value of the
plants that it nibbles.
It is in the mouth that the digestion of food
begins. Food is mechanically broken down by
the teeth, while salivary enzymes begin the
food’s chemical breakdown.
After examining the rabbit’s head, examine its
trunk. Note the paired feet and legs of the rabbit.
The feet and legs of the rabbit are modified for
hopping, also known as saltatorial locomotion.
Mammals with saltatorial locomotion tend to
have enlarged muscular hind limbs and reduced
forelimbs and to live in open spaces.
Pinna
 Unit 2
The Skeletal System
The skeletal system of the rabbit is comprised pelvic girdles and their appendages. The
of both cartilage and bone. The system serves pectoral appendages are the forelimbs, and the
to support the body mass and to protect internal pelvic appendages are the hind limbs. During
organs. The skeletal system consists of two your dissection of the rabbit, refer to the
main parts, the axial skeleton and the skeleton diagram to identify the bones that
appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton is the you encounter. Observe the structure and
skull, vertebral column, ribs, and sternum. The arrangement of the bones as you consider their
appendicular skeleton includes the pectoral and specific functions.

10
8 9 11
7
6 17
5 15 16
12
13
14

4 3 2 1
20
21

22
31
23
37 18
36
26 24 35 19
27 25
34
33

28
29 30 39 38 32
30

1. Mandible 14. Cervical vertebra (7) 27. Ulna

2. Molar 15. Thoracic vertebra (12) 28. Carpals
3. Premolar 16. Ribs (12) 29. Metacarpals
4. Incisor 17. Lumbar vertebra (7) 30. Phalanges
5. Nasal 18. Sacral vertebra (4) 31. Ilium
6. Premaxilla 19. Caudal vertebra (16) 32. Ischium
7. Maxilla 20. Scapula 33. Pubis
8. Frontal 21. Clavicle 34. Femur
9. Optic foramen 22. Humerus 35. Fibula
10. Squamosal 23. Sternum 36. Tibia
11. Parietal 24. Xiphoid process 37. Patella
12. Atlas 25. Olecranon process 38. Tarsals
13. Axis 26. Radius 39. Metatarsals

Figure 4. The skeletal structure of the rabbit

5
 Unit 3
The Muscular System
The muscular system consists of skeletal skin away from the body and then cut through
muscle, which contracts to move bones. A this muscle’s attachment points to the trunk
typical skeletal muscle is attached to two bones along the midline and in the axillary (armpit)
by tendons. The attachment point to the bone region of the rabbit. Be careful not to damage
that is moved during contraction is called the any of the other muscles. Finally, remove the
muscle’s insertion. The muscle’s origin is the skin by pulling it down from the ventral cranial
stationary point of attachment. To observe the region toward the caudal region. Skin should
musculature, you must first skin the rabbit as remain only on the feet, head, tail, and genitalia
described below. After removing the skin, refer of the rabbit.
to the muscle diagrams to identify the superficial
muscles of the rabbit. Consider the function of
each muscle as you examine it. Try to find the
origin and insertion of some of the muscles that
you examine.

Skinning the rabbit

Lay the rabbit on its ventral surface. Massage
the skin in the dorsal neck area to loosen a
portion of the skin from the underlying muscle.
With a scalpel, make a small incision in the center
of the area of loosened skin. Using blunt-tipped
scissors, cut a shallow incision down the dorsal
midline toward the tail. As you cut, pull the skin
away from the underlying muscles. From this
cut, make additional cuts down the lateral surface
of each leg and around the wrists and ankles.
Additionally cut around the neck, tail, anus, and
external genitalia. Ensure that you do not
damage the genitalia while making the cuts. After
all cuts are made, separate the skin from the
underlying muscles by using a blunt probe to
tear through the superficial fascia while pulling
the skin away from the body. As you separate the
skin near the neck you will see the platysma, fine
parallel muscle fibers that are attached to the
skin. Remove this muscle as you remove the
skin. As you separate the skin from the muscles
on the rabbit’s ventral surface, you will see that
the skin is attached to a thin sheet of muscle, the
cutaneous maximus, which originates at the
linea alba (midline). To remove the skin, pull the Figure 5. Incision lines for skinning

6
Dorsal Superficial Pectoral Muscles Ventral Superficial Pectoral Muscles

21
22
23
9
24
25
10 8 26
1
27
2
7 28
3
11 4
5
6
12
13
14

15

16

29

17

30

18

19

31
20

1. Basioclavicularis 12. Extensor communis digitorium 22. Sternomastoid

2. Levator scapulae ventralis 13. Extensor digiti proprius 23. Jugular vein
3. Cleidomastoid 14. Flexor carpi ulnaris 24. Basioclavicularis
4. Cleidohumeralis 15. Olecranon process 25. Cleidomastoid
5. Acromiodeltoid 16. Triceps brachii, lateral head 26. Pectoralis tenuis
6. Extensor carpi radialis longus 17. Acromiotrapezius 27. Cleidohumeralis
7. Extensor brevis pollicis 18. Latissimus dorsi 28. Pectoralis major
8. Radius 19. Spinotrapezius 29. Cutaneous maximus
9. Transverse ligament 20. External oblique 30. Latissimus dorsi
10. Ulna 21. Sternohyoid 31. External oblique
11. Extensor carpi ulnaris

Figure 6. Superficial pectoral muscles

7
Dorsal Superficial Pelvic Muscles Ventral Superficial Pelvic Muscles

15
1

3
4 16
5
17

6 18

7
8
9

19

14 20
13 21
22
12

11

10

1. Dorsal aponeurosis 12. Semimembranosis

2. Gluteus medius 13. Adductor magnus
3. Gluteus maximus 14. Gracilis
4. Rectus femoris 15. External oblique
5. Tensor fascia lata 16. Rectus femoris
6. Biceps femoris anterior 17. Vastus medialis
7. Vastus intermedius 18. Sartorius
8. Vastus lateralis 19. Abductor caudae
9. Biceps femoris posterior 20. Semimembranosis
10. Extensor digitorum longus 21. Gracilis
11. Gastrocnemius medialis 22. Adductor magnus

Figure 7. Superficial pelvic muscles

8
 Unit 4
The Digestive System
Secure the skinned rabbit on its dorsal side in
the dissection tray. Following the incision lines
depicted in the diagram, cut through the
muscular wall of the abdomen from the pubic
arch to the most posterior rib. Cut two additional
incisions from the linea alba to the dorsal side of
the rabbit, almost to the vertebral column.
Carefully fold the flaps of skin and muscle
laterally. Do not disturb the underlying organs.
Pin the flaps to the tray to expose the abdominal
cavity. There are two body cavities separated by
a thin sheet of muscle called the diaphragm. The
exposed cavity is the abdominal cavity. Anterior
to that cavity and separated by the diaphragm is
the thoracic cavity.
Liver
Diaphragm
Small intestine
Figure 8. Abdominal cavity
9
A prominent organ in the anterior of the
abdominal cavity is the liver. This reddish-
brown organ is divided into right and left lobes
by the falciform ligament. Each of these lobes is
further divided into median and lateral lobes,
for a total of four lobes of the liver. The liver
produces some amino acids, filters the blood,
converts harmful substances into harmless
ones, and helps to regulate blood sugar.
Additionally, in the digestive system, the liver
produces bile, which emulsifies fat during
digestion. The bile produced by the liver is
stored in the gallbladder. Raise the right lobe of
the liver and observe the gallbladder, a dark,
greenish-yellow sac.
Large intestine
 Liver

Gallbladder

Liver

Figure 9. Abdominal cavity showing the gallbladder

As you continue to examine the abdominal Esophagus

cavity, trace the path of food through the
digestive system. Each swallow of food forms a Cardiac region
Cardiac
bolus, which travels from the mouth down the sphincter Fundus
esophagus. The majority of the esophagus,
located in the thoracic cavity, is best examined
during observation of the circulatory system.
Some small portion may be visible at the most
anterior portion of the stomach. After leaving the
esophagus, the food reaches the stomach,
located on the left side of the rabbit, beneath the
ure

diaphragm. Lift the liver to view the entire

vat

stomach. The stomach consists of four portions:

cur

the cardia, the fundus, the body, and the pylorus. e

tur
ser

The cardiac portion is the area where the

rva
Les

stomach joins the esophagus. In this section, the

r cu

cardiac sphincter separates the esophagus from

ate

the stomach. (Malfunction of this sphincter is a

Gre

cause of acid reflux in humans.) The fundus is

the upper curve of the stomach that lies to
the left side of the esophagus. The body is Pylo
ric r
egio
the main portion of the stomach. The n
pyloric section lies to the right of the
esophagus and terminates in the pyloric Pyloric
sphincter
sphincter, which separates the stomach from the
duodenum, the first portion of the small Figure 10. Digestive system diagram

10
Liver Stomach

Figure 11. Abdominal cavity showing the stomach

Stomach
Spleen

Figure 12. Abdominal cavity showing the spleen

11
intestine. In the stomach, chemical and
mechanical digestion continue as muscular
contractions mix the bolus with digestive
secretions, forming a mixture called chyme.
Open the stomach and remove any food from the
inner surface. Examine the internal surface of the
stomach. Note the deep folds, or rugae, that
allow the stomach to expand without pressure.
(A hands lens may help you see greater detail.)
Though not part of the digestive system, the
spleen is best viewed at this point. The spleen is
located on the greater curvature of the stomach,
the larger convex curve. It is a small, dark,
reddish-brown organ. The spleen is part of the
lymphatic system and is designed to filter blood.
From the stomach, the chyme travels through
the pyloric sphincter into the duodenum, the
first section of the small intestine. It is here that
the common bile duct from the liver and
gallbladder and the pancreatic duct from the
pancreas meet the small intestine to release
additional enzymes to continue the process of
digestion. From the duodenum, the mixture
travels to the jejunum and ileum, the other
Stomach
Pancreas
Duodenum
Figure 13. Abdominal cavity showing the pancreas
12
sections of the small intestine, which are
difficult to distinguish. The caudal end of the
ileum is modified into a round muscular
enlargement called the sacculus rotundus. The
sacculus rotundus is a structure found only in
rabbits. It has a large amount of lymphoid tissue
and is involved in the immune system. Carefully
cut longitudinally along a portion of the small
intestine and examine the lining with a hand
lens. The small intestine is lined with thousands
of circular folds, the plicae circulares. There are
also small projections called villi. Each villus has
its own projections, the microscopic, hair-like
microvilli. The folds and projections increase
the surface area of the small intestine and
maximize the absorption of nutrients. The small
intestine ends at the ileocecal valve. Within the
mesentery of the small intestine is the pancreas,
a pinkish-brown, somewhat granular mass. The
pancreas opens to the small intestine through
the pancreatic duct at the caudal end of the
duodenum. It is part of both the digestive and
endocrine systems and secretes both enzymes
and hormones.
 Materials exit the small intestine through the
sacculus rotundus to the large intestine—first to
a short compartment called the ampulla cecalis
coli (a connection between the cecum and the
colon) and then to the colon. In the first section of
the colon, the proximal colon, special
contractions separate the more-digestible from
the less-digestible materials and force the
nutritious components backward into the cecum.
The rougher materials continue along the distal
colon. The cecum is a large, coiled blind sac that
extends from the sacculus rotundus. The cecum
makes up a larger proportion of the digestive
tract in rabbits than in any other group of
animals, and it is critical to the digestion of their
food. Within the cecum, bacteria break down the
material through fermentation. At certain times,
material from the cecum is released to the colon
where it is coated in mucus and excreted through
the anus in the form of soft balls called
cecotropes, also known as night feces or soft
feces. Rabbits immediately eat their cecotropes,
and the materials pass again through the
Distal colon
Sacculus rotundus
Small intestine
Figure 14. Abdominal cavity showing intestinal tract
13
digestive system. The rabbit extracts additional
nutrients from the food this time, due to the
fermentative changes that occurred in the cecum.
Rabbits’ digestion exemplifies one type of
hindgut fermentation. Cattle and other ruminants
are called “foregut fermenters” because
microbial fermentation of their food occurs
before the food reaches the intestine.
Although the rabbit colon can be divided into
the ascending, transverse, and descending colon,
it is usually discussed in terms of the proximal
and distal colon. A short, muscular portion called
the fusus coli marks the division between the
two. This section helps regulate the complex
events that move materials either forward or
backward and that determine whether
cecotropes or dry feces are being produced. The
beginning section of the proximal colon has a
lumpy appearance because it includes many
pouches called haustra between longitudinal
bands called taenia. The distal colon is a long,
twisted tube that terminates with the rectum.
Both dry feces and cecotropes exit the anus.
Haustra
Taenia
Colon
Proximal colon
Cecum Appendix
 Dorsal Superficial Pelvic Muscles Ventral Superficial Pelvic Muscles

14 9
3
10
15
16
17

1 21
14
2 18
22

9 19
3 23
10
20
24
4 11

14 25
13

25
5

13
26
12
6
3
6
7
27

13

1. Diaphragm 10. Liver, left lateral lobe 19. Kidney

2. Falciform ligament 11. Stomach 20. Duodenum
3. Liver, right central lobe 12. Small intestine 21. Pyloric stomach
4. Omentum 13. Appendix 22. Cardiac stomach
5. Taenia 14. Esophagus 23. Spleen
6. Colon 15. Cystic duct 24. Pancreas
7. Cecum 16. Gallbladder 25. Ileum
8. Rectum 17. Bile duct 26. Sacculus rotundus
9. Liver, left central lobe 18. Liver, caudate lobe 27. Mesentery

Figure 15. Stomach diagram

14
 Unit 5
The Respiratory System
To view the respiratory system, open the
thoracic cavity. Cut along the midline, from the
diaphragm to the base of the neck. As you make
your incisions, you will be cutting through some
musculature as well as the ribs. Fold back the
musculature and ribs on both sides to expose the
cavity. Pin the musculature down to expose the
thoracic cavity.
You have already examined the nares, the
external portion of the rabbit’s nose. Rabbits are
obligate nasal breathers; a rabbit cannot breathe
through its mouth due to the position of the
glottis and epiglottis. These structures serve as
the opening of the respiratory system from the
pharynx, the area just posterior to the mouth
and common to both the respiratory and
digestive systems.
As you examine the features of the respiratory
system, follow the path of an inhaled breath.
From the nares, air travels to the pharynx,
past the glottis and epiglottis, to the larynx, and
then the trachea. To view the larynx and trachea,
extend the midline incision toward the chin,
making a shallow cut to avoid damaging the
underlying structures. Then, using a blunt
instrument, tease away any surrounding tissue.

Esophagus

Trachea
s
Lung

Heart enclosed in
the pericardium

Lun
gs

Aortic arch

Figure 16. Thoracic cavity, with the heart

15
The larynx, a cartilaginous structure, protects
the entrance to the trachea and is important in
vocalization. Posterior to the larynx is the
trachea. The trachea is a long tube ringed with
bands of cartilage that provide support and
prevent collapse. The trachea continues
posteriorly until it divides into left and right
bronchi dorsal to the heart. These bronchi lead to
the left and right lungs. In the lungs, the bronchi
Trachea
Figure 17. Thoracic cavity, without the heart
16
branch further into smaller bronchioles, which
terminate in vestibules containing alveoli, where
most gas exchange occurs. The lungs of the
rabbit are divided into three portions: the
anterior, middle, and posterior lobes. Due to the
position of the heart on the left side of the cavity,
the left anterior lobe is much smaller than its
counterpart on the right.
s
Lung
Bronchus
Lun
gs
 Unit 6
The Circulatory System
The circulatory system transports various ventricle. The blood is then pumped through the
substances through the body, including pulmonary valve to the lungs by way of the
dissolved gases, nutrients, hormones, defensive pulmonary artery. Arteries are vessels that carry
cells, and cellular wastes. Like other mammals blood away from the heart. Valves prevent the
(and like birds), rabbits possess a highly blood from flowing back into the chamber from
branched network of vessels and a four- which it came. In the lungs, the blood becomes
chambered heart. oxygenated through gas exchange in the alveoli.
There are two circulatory pathways: pulmonary The blood then returns to the heart through the
and systemic. In pulmonary circulation, pulmonary veins. Veins are vessels that carry
deoxygenated blood is pumped from the right blood toward the heart. The blood enters the
side of the heart to the lungs, and oxygenated heart again in the left atrium and travels through
blood flows back to the left side of the heart. In the bicuspid valve to the left ventricle. From the
systemic circulation, this oxygenated blood is left ventricle, the blood is pumped through the
pumped from the left side of the heart aortic valve and out of the heart through the
throughout the body, and deoxygenated blood aorta, the largest artery in the body.
travels back to the right side of the heart. To fully
view the heart, carefully remove the thymus
gland, a component of the endocrine system.
The heart is covered by a membrane called
the pericardium, or pericardial sac.
Carefully lift it away from the heart
and make an incision in it. In a living
rabbit, the pericardial sac is full of
fluid, which protects and cushions Aorta
Right anterior
the heart. Once you have removed vena cava
the pericardial sac, examine the
four chambers of the heart. Two
dark, thinner-walled atria are Left anterior
vena cava
anterior to the two thicker-walled
ventricles. The organization of the Right atrium
heart keeps oxygenated and
deoxygenated blood separated.
Left atrium
To trace the flow of blood
through the heart, slice a ventral
opening by making a smooth,
continuous partial incision into the
heart’s left side. Carefully fold the Left ventricle
Posterior
ventral portion away from the vena cava
dorsal portion, as if opening a
book. Deoxygenated blood from Right ventricle
the body enters the right atrium via
the right anterior vena cava, the left
anterior vena cava, and the
posterior vena cava. From the right
atrium, blood flows through the
tricuspid valve into the right Figure 18. Heart, ventral view

17
 Following the path of the aorta, you will see
that it immediately makes a posterior turn, the
aortic arch. Continuing caudally from the arch is
the dorsal aorta, which supplies blood to the
posterior portion of the body (and may be called
the abdominal aorta below the diaphragm). The
first branch is the celiac artery (or celiac trunk). It
diverges to form the hepatic artery, which
supplies the liver, and the gastrosplenic artery,
which further subdivides to serve the stomach
and spleen. Continuing caudally, locate the
superior mesenteric artery, which supplies blood
to the small intestine. Next, find the paired renal
arteries that carry blood to the kidneys and the
gonadal arteries, which deliver blood to the
testes in males or the ovaries in females. Farther
along the dorsal aorta you will see the paired
iliolumbar arteries that carry blood to the
muscles of the back. The last major branch forms
the right common and the left common iliac
arteries, which supply blood to the legs.
Blood travels through the aortic arch and to the
anterior regions of the body through several
important vessels. The coronary arteries supply
blood to the heart muscle itself. The right
Anterior vena cava
Figure 19. Heart, dorsal view
18
brachiocephalic artery supplies blood to the right
subclavian artery (which leads into the right
shoulder) and the right common carotid artery
(which leads to the head). Likewise, the left
brachiocephalic artery supplies the left subclavian
artery and the left common carotid artery.
Veins have less-muscular walls than arteries
and tend to be more superficial (i.e., major
arteries tend to lie deeper in the body than the
major veins). The veins merge until they reach
the venae cavae, which return blood to the right
atrium of the heart. The venous system is in
some ways the inverse of the branching arterial
system. The paired common iliac veins flow into
the inferior vena cava. As you trace the vena
cava cranially, you can locate the paired
iliolumbar veins, the paired gonadal veins, and
the paired renal veins. The hepatic portal vein
drains the liver and merges with the inferior
vena cava near the diaphragm before flowing
into the right atrium. Blood drains from the
head via the transverse jugular vein and the
external jugular veins, and from there into the
subclavian veins, which merge to form the
superior venae cavae.
Posterior vena cava
 Thoracic cavity, superficial Heart, ventral
33
30
32
29

24 23

1 22 21
5
8
3 9

7 11
20 19
10 14
13 34
25
15
12
25

Thoracic cavity, deep Heart, dorsal

17 16

33 31
30
32
29
28 24
18 29
27
23
4 26
2 20 21
22
5 8

7
19 20
6 9
3 25

12

1. Thymus gland 13. Diaphragm, centrum tendineum 24. Right anterior vena cava
2. Heart 14. Phrenic v. 25. Posterior vena cava
3. Mediastinum 15. Esophagus 26. Pulmonary v.
4. Right lung, superior lobe 16. Transverse jugular v. 27. Pulmonary a.
5. Right lung, middle lobe 17. External jugular v. 28. Ligamentum arteriosum
6. Right lung, medial inferior lobe 18. Vertebral v. 29. Aortic arch
7. Right lung, lateral inferior lobe 19. Left ventricle 30. Brachiocephalic a.
8. Left lung, middle lobe 20. Right ventricle 31. Right subclavian a.
9. Left lung, inferior lobe 21. Left atrium 32. Left subclavian a.
10. Rib 22. Right atrium 33. Left common carotid a.
11. Xiphoid process 23. Left anterior vena cava 34. Pericardium
12. Diaphragm, muscular

Figure 20. Diagram of the thoracic cavity with heart

19
 Unit 7
The Urogenital System
The urogenital system consists of the urinary into and out of the kidney. Also notice the adrenal
and the reproductive systems, which share some glands, part of the endocrine system, one of
components. The urinary system removes which is medial to each kidney.
nitrogenous wastes from the body as urine, and The kidneys filter waste from the bloodstream
it also regulates osmotic pressure. The and produce urine. The urine moves from the
reproductive system produces the gametes (the kidneys through the ureter to the urinary bladder,
male’s sperm and female’s ova) necessary for the where it accumulates. As the bladder fills, it is
formation of offspring. It also includes the stimulated to contract, expelling the urine out
structures involved in the sexual transfer of through the urethra. In the female rabbit, the
sperm to ova and in the protection, development, urethra empties into the urogenital sinus,
and birth of young. whereas in the male it continues to the penis,
joining the reproductive system.
Urinary System
To view the urinary system, remove the 1
10 9
rabbit’s liver and push the visceral organs 11
to the right side of the specimen. Partially
2 8
embedded on the dorsal surface of the
abdominal cavity are two bean-shaped 7
organs, the kidneys. The kidneys filter
6
waste from the bloodstream, regulate the
3
amount of water in the rabbit, and
maintain appropriate concentrations of 4
certain ions. Using a sharp scalpel, cut 5
one of the kidneys in half longitudinally,
along its flattened plane. As you examine 1. Kidney 7. Renal medulla
the interior of the kidney, note the outer 2. Hilus 8. Renel cortex
3. Abdominal aorta 9. Renal a. and v.
portion, the renal cortex, and the inner 4. Inferior vena cava 10. Dorsolumbar a. and v.
portion, the renal medulla. As you 5. Ureter 11. Adrenal gland
examine the kidneys, notice the renal 6. Renal pelvis
artery and renal vein, which carry blood Figure 21. Kidneys and associated structures

Uninary bladder
Kidney
Ureter

Figure 22. Upper portion of urinary system

20
Reproductive System
Male
In males the hormone testosterone and the
sperm (the male gametes), are produced in the
testes, two organs situated in the scrotum. To
view the testes, cut open the scrotum, located
caudal to the penis. The testes are white,
marbled, ovoid structures. With a sharp scalpel,
cut one of them in half. Examine the interior of
the testis, noting the coiled tubules, seminiferous
tubules, where sperm are produced. Examine the
anterior portion of the uncut testis and locate the
epididymis, a tightly coiled tube that collects and
stores sperm cells. During ejaculation, the sperm
are released from the epididymis to the ductus
deferens, which transfers sperm from a testis to
the urethra. At the base of the bladder lies the
seminal vesicle, which secretes a fluid into the
ductus deferens. This fluid combines with the
sperm and with fluid from the prostate to
produce semen. The prostate is seen as a
thickening of the dorsal wall of the seminal
vesicle. The semen passes through the urethra
and out through the tip of the penis. The free end
of the penis, the glans penis, typically lies within
a pouch of skin called the prepuce. Inside the
glans penis is a small bone called the baculum,
which stabilizes the penis during copulation.

14

2 13

12

3
11

4 10

9
5

1. Uninary bladder 8. Gubernaculum

2. Seminal vesicle 9. Testis
3. Scrotal sac 10. Tunica vaginalis
4. Urethra 11. Epididymus
5. Crus 12. Mesorchium
6. Penis 13. Vas deferens
7. Anus 14. Spermatic a. and v.

Figure 23. Male urogenital system

21
Female
Trace the path of the gametes produced by the
female rabbit. In female specimens, the ova,
female gametes, are produced by the ovaries.
The ovaries can be found in the dorsal wall of the
abdomen caudal to the kidneys. If the ovaries in
your specimen are obscured by a layer of fat,
carefully remove it in order to view them. Once
the ova mature, they are released from the
ovaries into the fallopian tubes. Unlike humans,
rabbits release multiple eggs at one time.
Fertilization of these eggs typically produces a
litter of 4 to 12 kits. The fallopian tubes transport
the eggs from the ovaries to the uteri. Rabbits
have paired uteri, a distinct left uterus and right
uterus, each with a muscular wall that
distinguishes them from the fallopian tubes.
Each uterus enters the anterior of the vagina
though a separate cervix terminating at the
external uterine aperture. The vagina and the
urethra (from the urinary system), converge at
the vestibule, or urogenital sinus, which opens to
the exterior at the vestibular opening, or
urogenital orifice.

16

2 15

3
14
4
5

6 13

12

11
8

10

1. Ovarian a. and v. 9. Vestibular opening

2. Ovary 10. Anus
3. Fallopian tube 11. Vagina
4. Ovarian ligament 12. Urethra
5. Urinary bladder 13. Mesometrium
6. Uterus 14. Mesosalpinx
7. External uterine aperture 15. Funnel
8. Vestibule 16. Mesovarium

Figure 24. Female urogenital system

22
 Unit 8
The Nervous System
The nervous system is considered in two
parts—the central nervous system (CNS)
including the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord,
and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
including the nerves that spread throughout the
entire body. The nervous system controls and
coordinates other body systems and transmits
signals through the rabbit. To view the
components of the CNS, expose the brain. Place
the rabbit on its ventral surface. Remove all of the
skin, muscle, and connective tissue from the back
of the skull and neck. It will be necessary to
remove the pinnae during this process. Insert a
sharp pair of bone shears very shallowly into the
base of the skull. Carefully cut around the top of
the skull (make the anterior edge of your cut stay
dorsal to the eyes). After the circle has been cut,
gently use forceps to remove the piece of bone
and expose the brain. Examine the rabbit’s brain.
The brainstem is the most caudal structure,
leading from the brain to the spinal cord. The
brainstem regulates heart rate, breathing, and
other involuntary processes. In the posterior
portion of the brain is the cerebellum. The
cerebellum plays an important role in motor
control. Just anterior to the cerebellum is
the cerebrum, the largest portion of the brain.
This portion appears as two pear-shaped
structures, the hemispheres. The hemispheres
join at the corpus callosum. The cerebrum is
the center for thought processes, sensory
integration, and memory. At the most anterior
portion of the brain are the olfactory bulbs.
They are primarily involved in the rabbit’s sense
of smell. You must carefully remove the brain to
observe the ventral surface.

Dorsal Superficial Brain Ventral Superficial Brain

1 1

2 9

10
11
4

5
12

1. Olfactory bulb 1. Olfactory bulb

2. Median fissure 9. Olfactory tract
6
3. Sylvian fissure 10. Cerebral hemisphere
4. Temporal lobe 7 11. Pituitary gland
5. Pineal lobe 12. Pons
6. Cerebellum
7. Medulla oblongata 8
8. Spinal Cord

Figure 25. Superficial view of the brain

23
 Dissection of the Rabbit
221570

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