S2 Lung dissection

The purpose of this activity is:
• to find out about the structure of the lungs
• to find out how our lungs move as we breathe
• to relate the structure of the lungs to how they work when we breathe
Procedure
SAFETY:
• Wear eye protection whenever there is a risk to the eyes, for example, when changing scalpel blades, cutting cartilage or if the dissection material has been preserved.
• Take care with sharp dissecting tools and report any cuts to your teacher.
• Do not breathe directly into the lungs.
• At the end of the practical, disinfect the work area and wash your hands thoroughly using soap and hot water.


If you prefer not to work with the animal lungs your teacher has provided, you could research the lungs using books, models, or the internet. You could search for more information in this way after the practical.
Investigation
a Describe the look, feel and colour of the lungs.
b Identify the trachea and explore the texture of its wall.
c Explore the tubes that enter the lungs and see how they divide.
d If the heart is still attached, identify the main blood vessels leaving and entering the lungs. If not, try to identify large blood vessels anyway.
e Identify any membrane surrounding the lungs.
f Inflate the lungs (following your teacher’s instructions) and observe how they behave.
g Cut a piece of lung tissue and observe the cut surface and how the tissue behaves when you drop it into water.