Lab Activity- Sheep Kidney Dissection

Biology-BIO70
Program ATHS Subject

Grade 10 - Section 10.Asp

Name
Rashed Ali Aldhaheri and Saif
ID 869534048 and 521338
Obaid Alkaabi

In this activity, you will examine the outside of a beef kidney and then cut it open to see and identify the
structures inside the kidney. To get full credit for this activity, your group will need to do three things:
1) Follow the instructions in this dissection guide to identify all the structures in the kidney.
2) After your group has identified all the structures in the kidney, your group should use your kidney to show
me the path taken through the kidney by the blood, and by the filtrate that becomes the urine. As you explain
this, you should point out and name all the structures that are involved.
3) Your group should answer the questions at the end of this lab guide.

Evaluation

You will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Respect for the specimen you are studying. If you treat the specimen in a disrespectful way, you will
be removed from the lab and assigned a mark of 0.

2. Safety. Your lab tools should be cleaned, dried and returned at the end of the class. Your group is
solely responsible for your scalpel. Show your equipment to the teacher before returning it to the cart.
Always wash your hands and your work area when you are finished. Handle dissecting tools carefully
(don’t cut directly towards yourself or your lab partner(s)). You should wear gloves and safety goggles.
Lab aprons are available to use them.

3. Participation. Every member of your team should contribute to learning from the dissection.

4. Careful dissection. Try to follow all directions to the best of your ability, and to cut carefully in order
to observe whole organs. Use your reference materials and/or the teacher to assist you.

5. Disposal. Any tissues removed should be placed in a special garbage bag, not down the sink or in
the regular garbage

6. Checkup questions. At the end of the activity, the teacher will have questions to ask you about the
actual dissection. (eg. Where is the renal capsule? What is this dark red area?) Each person in your
group will have to answer one or more questions. Call the teacher over by raising your hand when your
group is ready for the questions.
Background Information

The human urinary system consists of two kidneys, two ureters, one urinary bladder, and one urethra.

This system has two basic functions, both of which occur in the kidneys. The first function is to remove
nitrogenous wastes (such as creatine, urea, and uric acid) from the body. The second function is to
maintain the ion, pH, and water levels in the blood.
One product of these processes is urine, a pale-yellow fluid containing water, and particles such as
urea, sodium, potassium, creatine, and uric acid. Urine moves from the kidneys to the urinary bladder
via the ureters, which are essentially tube-shaped extensions of the renal pelvis. Urine is stored in the
urinary bladder until it leaves the body via the urethra.

Basic Kidney Anatomy

1. Collect dissecting tools, a ruler and a tray for your lab group. Obtain a fresh kidney.
2. Observe the whitish adipose (fat) tissue clinging to the renal capsule. These are remnants of the
adipose capsule. Use your scissors to remove excess adipose tissue around the hilus region, and the
probe to help you identify the ureter and any blood vessels located in the hilus region. Complete two
biological drawings of two views of the exterior of the kidney.

3. Cut the kidney in half longitudinally using the knife or with short repeated strokes of the
scalpel.

4. Examine the interior structure of the kidney. Identify the cortex, medulla, renal pyramids,
renal
columns, the major calyx and minor calyxes, the ureter and any blood vessels present. It may be
useful
to trace the vessels from the hilus region with a blunt probe to help with identification.

5. Each student completes a biological drawing of the interior of one half of the kidney.

6. Dispose of the kidney in the waste bag provided. Wash all dissecting equipment and return.
Wash
your hand thoroughly with warm soap and water.
Post-Lab Questions: (Kidney Lab Questions)

Post a picture of your dissection ( 3 marks )

A. eliminates waste from the body

2. What is the main function of the kidney?

a. break down and digest food in order to extract necessary nutrients from what you have eaten
b. stores urine, allowing urination to be infrequent and voluntary
c. extract waste from blood, balance body fluid & form urine
d. plays an essential role in converting the food we eat into fuel for the body's cells

3. Identify letter G

a. ureter
b. renal cortex
c. renal capsule
d. renal medulla

4. Identify letter H

a. ureter
b. renal cortex
c. renal capsule
d. renal medulla

5. Identify letter E

a. ureter
b. renal cortex
c. renal capsule
d. renal medulla

6. Identify letter B

a. adrenal gland
b. renal vein
c. renal artery
d. renal pelvis

7. The _________ is/are responsible for urine storage.

a. Urethra
b. Kidneys
c. Bladder
d. Ureter

8. Place the following events in sequence:

a. I, II, III
b. II, III, I
c. III, II , I
d. II, I, III

9. Before the kidney filter it out, where does urea exist?

a. in the liver
b. in the stomach
c. in the blood
d. in the brain

10. What word describes the function of the nephrons?

a. tube
b. Filter
c. passageway
d. store

11. The correct order for the renal tubules is:

a. proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, collecting duct
b. distal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, proximal convoluted tubule, collecting duct
c. proximal convoluted tubule, collecting duct, distal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle
d. collecting duct, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule

12. Which kidney structure empties into the ureter?

a. renal pyramid
b. renal papilla
c. calyx
d. renal pelvis
H