Carolina Biological Supply Company

THINK MINK!
Mammalian Dissection with
Carolina’s Perfect Solution® Mink
 Session Objectives

• Introduce general structure, anatomy, and

physiology of the mink
• Explore the benefits of using mink as a
model organism for your next mammalian
dissection
• Experience the quality and introduce the
benefits of Carolina’s Perfect Solution®
specimens
Carolina™ Mink Dissection BioKit®
(catalog no. 221483)

• 15 Carolina’s Perfect Solution® plain mink

• 15 hand lenses
• Teacher’s manual and student guide (with
detailed dissection images)
 Background Information

• The American mink is an agile, semi-aquatic

member of the family Mustelidae, which includes
weasels, otters, and ferrets.
• Mink are raised on commercial mink farms for their
highly desirable fur.
• Mink have a slender body with short legs and a long,
thick tail. Slightly webbed feet make them excellent
swimmers.
 Background Information

• Mink are found

throughout North
America and typically
live in wooded areas
near streams, rivers,
lakes, or ponds and
marshes.
• Mink are carnivores. They prey upon muskrats, mice,
snakes, frogs, and birds.
• Mink are territorial. They use a foul smelling secretion
from anal glands to mark their boundaries. They also
use these pheromones for defense and courtship
behavior.
 THINK MINK!

• Economical
alternative to
other mammalian
dissections such as
cats or pigs
• Good-size specimen
that is readily
available
 Dissection Preparation Tips

• Organize your dissection area

• Use appropriate personal protective
equipment: apron, gloves, and safety glasses
• Use large animal dissection tray to contain
specimen and fluids
• Lay out your instruments so they are easy to
access
 Dissection Preparation

• Work in pairs
• Each pair will work
through an
introductory
investigation of
external and internal
anatomy
• Use diagrams to
reinforce what you
learn from the
procedure
 Specimen Navigation

From Pre-Lab Observation Sheet

Mink Dissection BioKit® Student Guide
Directional Terms and Body Planes
Direction or Plane Definition

Lateral Toward the right or left side

Medial Toward the midline

Proximal Near or toward the point of reference

Distal Away from the point of reference

Dorsal Toward the back

Ventral Toward the belly

Anterior Toward the head

Posterior Toward the tail

Superficial Toward or along the surface

Deep A significant distance below the surface

Sagittal plane Divides the body into longitudinal left and right
portions
Midsagittal plane Divides the body into equal left and right halves

Transverse plane Perpendicular to the long axis; produces

cross-sections
Frontal plane Divides the body into dorsal and ventral portions
External Anatomy: Sensory Structures
The mink is a member of class Mammalia and order
Carnivora. Examine your specimen carefully. What
features are observed that help place the mink in
these taxa?

External Sensory
Structures of Head
 External Anatomy: The Eyes
Examine the eyes more closely. Note the presence of
a third eyelid, the nictitating membrane. This
membrane moves laterally to cover the eye. Why
might this be useful?

Can you observe any other

interesting features of the eye?
 External Anatomy: Gender
• Identify the gender of your specimen. Work with
a group that has a mink of the opposite sex, and
compare male and female specimens.
• Note that both sexes have many of the same
structures:
- 8 mammae on ventral surface
- Anus located ventral to tail
- Anal glands (The mink’s anal secretions are
considered repulsive and irritating to many.)
Note: If the glands are present, DO NOT puncture or
damage these organs.
 External Anatomy: Unique Features

• Female mink have an external vestibule located

ventral to the anus. This reproductive opening
also serves as a channel for release of urine
from the body.
• Male mink’s penis is considered long in relation
to the rest of its body. Length allows sperm to
be deposited close to the eggs.
• Male mink have a scrotal sac with enclosed
testes near the anus.
Internal Anatomy: Initial Incisions
• Place the mink on a large
animal dissecting tray
with its ventral surface
facing upward.
• Follow the incision lines
to expose the thoracic
and abdominal cavities.
• Use caution while making
these cuts; do not
damage the underlying
tissues.
Internal Anatomy: Initial Incisions

• With scissors, make an

incision at the base of the
neck.
• Cut caudally through the
ribs and continue through
the abdominal region.
• Make lateral incisions
along the base of the ribs.
• Make a second set of
lateral incisions at the
caudal end of the first cut.
Mink Dissection Observation Sheet

Sample from Mink

Dissection BioKit®
Student Guide
Internal Anatomy: Body Cavities

• Expose the abdominal

and thoracic cavities
• Explore internal
anatomy
• Identify major organ
systems
 Internal Anatomy: Greater Omentum

• A thin membrane
called the greater
omentum (fatty
apron), covers most
of the organs below
the liver.
• Loosen the greater
omentum from
underlying organs,
and fold it anteriorly.
Abdominal Cavity
Thoracic Cavity
Internal Anatomy: Digestive System

Locate major organs:

• Liver
• Gallbladder
• Stomach
• Small intestine
• Large intestine
• Pancreas
• Spleen
• Rectum
Internal Anatomy: Digestive System
Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

Locate:
• Diaphragm
• Heart
• Lungs
• Trachea
Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
Trachea
Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

Heart and Lungs

Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

Bronchi Branching to Lungs

Internal Anatomy: Urogenital System

To better observe the urogenital system,

remove most of the digestive system:

• Cut the esophagus at the anterior point of the

stomach, below the diaphragm.
• Cut the descending colon anterior to the rectum.
• Remove the gastrointestinal tract from the
abdominal cavity.
Gastrointestinal Tract Removed
Male Urogenital System
Female Urogenital System
 Additional Activities

• Draw the digestive tract of the mink from mouth

to anus. Label each organ.
• Explain the relationship between the respiratory
system and the circulatory system.
• Describe the action of the diaphragm in the
mechanical process of breathing.
• Isolate and identify several arteries and veins of
the circulatory system.
 Additional Activities

• Describe and draw the position of the heart

relative to the lungs and diaphragm.
• Describe the internal structure of the kidney.
• Compare the lining of the colon to the lining of
the stomach and the lining of the small intestine.
Describe any differences in terms of form and
function.
 Additional Resources from Carolina

Carolina™ BioLab® Virtual Lab Series

Guide students through an

interactive virtual dissection,
teaching internal and
external features
 Carolina Free Resources

Carolina offers many free resources

to help support teachers.
 Time to Clean Up . . .
• Carolina’s Perfect Solution® specimens
- Return to white bucket or take home for
further study
- All other waste in the trash bags
• Dissecting pans and instruments
- Clean or take as gift
• Safety glasses and aprons
- Gift from Carolina
• Evaluation forms/info cards
- Complete, return to presenter
 Evaluations: Share Your Thoughts!

Scale = 1 to 10

10 = Outstanding
9 = Above Average
8, 7 = Average
6, 5, 4 = Below Average
3, 2, 1 = Well Below Average

Please provide comments!

Carolina Biological Supply Company

Thank you for investing your time

in our training program.

For all of your classroom needs,

Visit our Web site at www.carolina.com.

Enjoy the rest of the conference!