Getting to the Urogenital
System
Getting Started
Removing the reproductive organs
is not as frustrating as finding lymph nodes. But it is no walk
in a park either. You've done great thus far, so there is no reason
to believe that you can't pass this test with flying colors. After
opening up the body cavity, you are going to start with what presents
itself first, in this case the easiest object to extract from
the mouse is going to be the urogenital system. You will see a
pouch budding up under the intestines, this is the bladder and
will be your starting point.
It's A Boy!!!
First, let's discuss the more
difficult male system.
1. Located posteriorly to the bladder are the scrotal
sacs containing the testes. Free the testes from their anchors
of fat, careful to include the epididymal capsules and gently
move it up toward the abdominal cavity.
2. As you do so, the ductus deferens will follow and
you can severe it at the point it joins the urethra near the prostate.
Obviously, place it in a preservative if you wish to save it.
3. Next, you have to remove the fat and muscles hiding
the pelvic arch from view. You should be able to see the penile
sheath threaded through the hole in the pelvic arch.
4. With a dull pair of scissors reserved for cutting
bone or with bone cutters, gently cut through the pelvic arch
on the each lateral side of the penile sheath removing the resulting
bone chip.
5. You now have a nice little canal to gently peel the
seminal vesicles, bladder, prostate, penile sheath, and bulbourethral
gland down and out. Through the entire process, use care with
your instruments in order to prevent compression or tears. A great
handle for the male system is the penile sheath posterior to the
prostate.
It's A Girl
Female Anatomy
The female anatomy is not as complicated
and therefore not as difficult to remove.
1. Once again make two cuts through the pelvic arch,
forming a canal to remove the uterus.
2. Free the Y shaped uterus from the surrounding fat,
remembering to include the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
3. Using the fat or the uterus itself, pull the structure
down through the canal, cutting any anchors as you go.
4. Once you get below the pelvic arch, use you scissors
to free the rectum from the vaginal canal.
5. Rinse with saline and lay flat on paper, leaving
it intact. Place the paper in preservative.
Site designed,
written, and selected pictures illustrated by Erin
Parsoneault, inspired by D.E.Devor-Henneman,
and edited/mentored by Dr.
J.M.Ward