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312 EXERCISE 20 BRAIN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
G. Sheep Brain Dissection
SAFETY NOTE: Use disposable gloves, safety glasses, and
a lab coat when handling preserved material.
Remember that preserved material does not look like a
fresh specimen. Usually more detail may be observed in a
preserved brain because the tissue is firmer.
ACTIVITY 10 Dissection of
Sheep Brain
Lab Activity
1 Rinse the sheep brain to remove preservative.
2 Observe meninges and main brain regions.
• Examine the brain to see if the tough, outer dura
mater is present. If present, note the falx cerebri and
tentorium cerebelli. Carefully remove the dura mater.
• Now look for the stringy, web-like arachnoid mater
beneath and adhering to the dura mater. Deep to this
membrane is the very thin pia mater that follows the
contours of the gyri and sulci.
• Compare the sheep brain with the main external
regions of the human brain. Identify the cerebrum,
brain stem (medulla and pons), and cerebellum.
3 Identify dorsal structures (Figure 20.10).
• With the dorsal side up, identify the cerebral
hemispheres, gyri, sulci, longitudinal fissure, and
transverse fissure.
• Identify the 4 main lobes of the brain—frontal,
parietal, occipital, and temporal.
• At the longitudinal fissure, gently separate the 2
parts and look down between them for the thick band
of white fibers, the corpus callosum.
4 Identify ventral structures (Figure 20.11).
• Place the sheep brain ventral side up.
• Identify the olfactory bulb, olfactory tract, optic
nerve, optic chiasm, and optic tract. Why are the
olfactory tracts not called olfactory nerves?
• Posterior to these structures, locate the one large
mammillary body. How does the human mammil-
lary body look different from the sheep?
• If present, identify the infundibulum and pituitary
gland.
• Look at the three parts of the brain stem—the mid-
brain, pons, and medulla oblongata. How do these
compare with the human brain?
• The large trigeminal nerves (V) are located laterally
at the junction of the pons and medulla.
• The small abducens nerves (VI) are found medial
and slightly posterior to the trigeminal nerves,
arising from the pons.
5 Identify deep dorsal structures (Figure 20.12).
• Carefully pull the cerebellum away from the
cerebrum. Identify the pineal body, superior
colliculi, and inferior colliculi.
6 Identify midsagittal section structures (Figure 20.13).
• Using a sharp knife or scalpel, carefully make a
midsagittal section.
• Locate the brain stem components: the medulla
oblongata, the pons, and the midbrain. Compare
this with your human brain model.
• Identify the arbor vitae in the cerebellum. Does
this structure look similar to or different from the
human brain?
• Note the cerebral aqueduct and the fourth ventricle.
• Identify the thalamus, corpus collosum, septum
pellucidum, fornix, and lateral ventricles.
7 Observe coronal and transverse sections.
• Observe the coronal section your instructor may have
as a demonstration. Note the gray matter, white mat-
ter, longitudinal fissure, corpus callosum, thalamus,
lateral ventricles, and third ventricle.
• Observe the transverse or horizontal section your
instructor may have as a demonstration. Identify the
gray matter, white matter, and ventricles.
8 Clean Up:
• Dispose of tissue and clean your dissection tools,
tray, and lab surface as directed by your instructor.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
when you are done.
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EXERCISE 20 BRAIN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION 313

Frontal lobe

Left cerebral
hemisphere Right cerebral
hemisphere

Parietal lobe

Sulci
Longitudinal
fissure
Gyri

Occipital lobe
Vermis of
cerebellum
Cerebellar
hemispheres

Medulla
oblongata

Spinal cord

FIGURE 20.10 Dorsal view of the sheep brain.

Olfactory bulb

Olfactory tract

Optic (II) nerve

Optic chiasm
Infundibulum
Optic tract (pituitary gland removed)
Mammillary body
Cerebral peduncle

Pons
Trigeminal nerve (V)
Abducens nerve (VI)

Medulla oblongata

Spinal cord

FIGURE 20.11 Ventral view of the sheep brain.

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314 EXERCISE 20 BRAIN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Cerebrum

Occipital lobe
Pineal body
Inferior
colliculi
Superior
colliculi

Cerebellum

FIGURE 20.12 Posterior view of the sheep brain.

Pineal body
Thalamus
Lateral Fornix
ventricle

Cerebrum

Transverse fissure

Corpus
collosum Superior colliculus

Cerebellum

Optic
chiasm Fourth ventricle

Pituitary gland Pons

Mammillary body Medulla oblongata

FIGURE 20.13 Midsagittal section of the sheep brain.