Four Entries on the Muscles

Entry One: Exploring the Chest 

Focus Question: What muscles are in the chest of the cat? 

Procedure: For this dissection, we cut our cat along the medial line.  Then we cut her chest muscles, the dotted lines below show the incision. 

We also cut another incision below the pectoralis minor. 

 

Materials Used: We used the scapels and booklet to help us cut the cat. We also used an iPhone to take pictures. 

Data/Observation: 

Human Muscles 

Reflection: During the dissection of the chest muscles, I learned that the cat and human aren't super similar.  The cat has muscles like the pectoantebrachialis and the Xiphihumeralis. The cat's Serratus Veratus is synonymous to the human's Serratus Anterior. The actual dissection of the muscles was a little tricky.  We were really careful because we didn't want to cut too deep. The Serratus Ventralis and the External Intercostals were also a little confusing because we thought the Serratus Ventralis was too thick when we cut it. 

Entry Two: Seeing the Abdomen 

Focus Question: What muscles are in the abdomen of the cat? 

Procedure: The first step we took before dissecting was cutting off the mammary tissue. After we cleaned that up, we saw the linea alba and the exterior oblique. We then cut along the dotted line that can be seen in the picture below. 

Materials Used: The materials used were scapels, the book with instructions on how to cut, and an iPhone(for pictures.) 

Data/Observation: 

Human Muscles: 

Reflection: In this dissection, we looked at the abdomen muscles. At first, we couldn't see any of the muscles because Oreo had a lot of mammary tissue. After we cut that off, we were finally able to see her muscles. While dissecting, I learned that the cat and human have the same muscles in the abdomen area. I also learned that underneath the External and Internal Oblique muscles are the Transverse Abdominus.  I also learned that the Linea Alba is really thin. While dissecting, I thought that the Linea Alba was just a lot of connective tissue. I also thought that the Rectus Abdominus couldn't be seen in any of the pictures, so I decided to draw it. I know that it is under the Linea Alba. 

Entry Three: Visting the Muscles of the Forearm, Arm, Back, and Shoulder 

Focus Question: What are the muscles of the forearm, arm, back, and shoulder? 

Procedure: For this part, we cut along the incision lines shown in the pictures below. 

Materials Used: For this dissection, we used scapels, the booklet, and an iPhone. 

Data/Observation: 

Human Muscles:

Reflection: In this part of the dissection, I learned that the ventral and dorsal of the forearms are different form each other. I initially thought they were the same muscles. I also thought it was interesting how the cat had more muscles than the human since we only have one trapezius and deltoid. I think the shoulder and back were probably the hardest part of dissecting this section. 

Entry Four: Discovering the Leg and Thigh Muscles

Focus Question: What are the muscles of the legs and thighs?

Procedure: We cut along the dotted lines in the pictures below. 

Materials Used: We continued using the book, the scapels, and an iPhone. 

Data/Observation:

Human Muscles:

Reflection: The leg muscles were a little confusing but we did most of it by looking at the book. I think the most confusing part was figuring out the superficial muscles. I also felt like dissecting was easier.