Instructions
Purpose
The student will explore the anatomy of a cow eye.

Materials
Carolina Biological Supply item #228904: Perfect Solution Cow Eye, Plain
Dissecting Kit
Safety Equipment (Goggles, gloves)

Verification
Take a selfie with your specimen first to include in your submission. Also, write your name and date on a notecard or piece of paper. You will place this paper in your images for additional verification.

Procedure
A. External Eye Anatomy
Read the instructions provided with your dissection kit and the Safety Data Sheet for Carolina\’s Perfect Solution Download Safety Data Sheet for Carolina\’s Perfect SolutionTWICE in order to properly observe the EXTERNAL anatomy of the eye. Follow the instructions for locating the following EXTERNAL structures:

Sclera
Cornea
Muscle
Adipose tissue
Optic nerve
Place your notecard or piece of paper next to your dissected specimen. Use a digital camera to capture a minimum of four clear, in-focus photographs of your dissected specimen with the aforementioned structures, labeled using text boxes afterward. You can also point to the structures individually using the probe.

B. Internal Eye Anatomy
Read the instructions provided with your dissection kit TWICE in order to properly observe the INTERNAL anatomy of the eye. Follow the instructions for locating the following INTERNAL structures:

Iris
Pupil
Lens
Aqueous humor
Vitreous humor
Ciliary muscle
Retina
Choroid
Tapetum (State the importance of this structure for animals)
Optic disc
Place your notecard or piece of paper next to your dissected specimen. Use a digital camera to capture a minimum of four clear, in-focus photographs of your dissected specimen with the aforementioned structures, labeled using text boxes afterwards. You can also point to the structures individually using the probe.

Disposal
Follow the disposal guidelines outlined in the dissection kit instructions from Carolina Biological Supply:

Specimens preserved in Carosafe® or Carolina\’s Perfect Solution® are non-toxic and can often be disposed of in a regular waste destined for a landfill or incinerator. The specimens are not classifiable as federal hazardous wastes and do not represent a biohazard. However, you should check with your local solid waste authority (e.g., the local governmental authority in charge of solid waste, your local landfill, or your waste disposal company if applicable) to ensure that this is an acceptable practice. If it is, we recommend that you double bag the specimens before placing them in your regular waste.

Caution: If your residence is equipped with a septic tank system, seek advice before discharging Carosafe® or Carolina\’s Perfect Solution® into it. Even these safe chemicals can upset the microbiological balance that is so important to the system\’s proper functioning.

Results
The photos of your dissected specimen will comprise your lab submission. Please label your photos (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.) so that they can be referenced when grading.

Lab 7: Cow Eye Dissection

 

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course

Instructor’s Name

Date

 

 

Lab 7: Cow Eye Dissection

1. External Eye Anatomy

Figure 1: External Eye Anatomy

Figure 2: External Eye Anatomy

 

 

1. Internal Eye Anatomy

Figure 3: Internal Eye Anatomy

 

Figure 4: Internal Eye Anatomy

 

Figure 5: Internal Eye Anatomy

 

 

 

 

References

 Garza, K. (2019). Cow Eye Dissection. https://www.perkinselearning.org/accessible-science/activities/cow-eye-dissection