Name _______________________

Chicken Dissection
Identifying Four Types of Tissues

Pre-Lab
1. What are the four major categories of tissues?
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2. Which tissue has been the easiest for you to learn? WHY?
___________________________________________________________________________
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3. Which tissue has been the most difficult for you to learn? WHY?
___________________________________________________________________________
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Lab
Materials:
Piece of Chicken Wax Paper
Forceps Newspaper
Blunt Ended Probe Cleaning Supplies
Dissecting Scissors
Procedure:
1. Lay down and spread out newspaper.
2. Lay a piece of wax paper on top of the newspaper.
3. Place the piece of chicken on the newspaper.
4. Carefully remove the outer layer by lifting it with your fingers and VERY SLOWLY pulling it
off the rest of the piece of chicken.
5. This is the epidermis and dermis. The epidermis is composed of stratified squamous
tissue. It is responsible for providing a waterproof barrier to germs. The dermis is
composed of areolar tissue and dense, irregular connective tissue.
6. Make the following observations:
a. Position: ____________________________________________________________
b. Color: _____________________________________________________________
c. Unique Features: ____________________________________________________
d. Texture: ___________________________________________________________
7. Look for yellowish to white masses on the meat of the chicken just under the skin. This is
called adipose. Adipose is a connective tissue that provides insulation, protection and
energy storage.
8. Make the following observations:
a. Position: ____________________________________________________________
b. Color: _____________________________________________________________
c. Unique Features: ____________________________________________________
d. Texture: ___________________________________________________________
9. Observe the thin, transparent material that covers the meat. This material is called fascia.
Fascia is dense fibrous connective tissue. It helps connects muscle to skin and also
compartmentalize muscles.
10. Make the following observations:
a. Position: ____________________________________________________________
b. Color: _____________________________________________________________
c. Unique Features: ____________________________________________________
d. Texture: ___________________________________________________________
11. Use your fingers and the blunt ended probe to separate several bundles of meat. Meat is
actually skeletal muscle. Muscles are responsible for movement.
12. Make the following observations:
a. Position: ____________________________________________________________
b. Color: _____________________________________________________________
c. Unique Features: ____________________________________________________
d. Texture: ___________________________________________________________
13. Look at the tough white bands at the ends of the bundles of muscle which extend from the
muscle end to the bone. This is a tendon. Tendons are a type of dense fibrous connective
tissue. Tough white bands that connect two bones together are ligaments. Look for a
ligament when you remove the muscle. It has a similar appearance to tendons.
14. Make the following observations:
a. Position: ____________________________________________________________
b. Color: _____________________________________________________________
c. Unique Features: ____________________________________________________
d. Texture: ___________________________________________________________
15. Carefully separate the rest of the muscles and look for a thick, red-to-white tube that lies
next to the bone. This is a blood vessel. If it is thick and elastic, it is an artery. If it is thin
and flat, it is a vein. Blood vessels contain epithelial, connective and smooth muscle
tissues. Blood vessels transport blood (a type of connective tissue) throughout the body.
16. Make the following observations:
a. Position: ____________________________________________________________
b. Color: _____________________________________________________________
c. Unique Features: ____________________________________________________
d. Texture: ___________________________________________________________
17. At the same time that you are looking for blood vessels, you may also look for a thin white
thread. This is a nerve. Nerves relay impulses to and from the brain.
18. Make the following observations:
a. Position: ____________________________________________________________
b. Color: _____________________________________________________________
c. Unique Features: ____________________________________________________
d. Texture: ___________________________________________________________
19. Remove the muscle from the chicken leg completely. Examine a bone. Bone is a
connective tissue that is also called osseous tissue. It provides internal support, protection,
and something for muscles to attach to.
20. Make the following observations:
a. Position: ____________________________________________________________
b. Color: _____________________________________________________________
c. Unique Features: ____________________________________________________
d. Texture: ___________________________________________________________
21. Examine the cartilage at the end of the bone. It is hyaline cartilage (a type of connective
tissue). Hyaline cartilage cushions joints and reduces friction between bones.
22. Make the following observations:
a. Position: ____________________________________________________________
b. Color: _____________________________________________________________
c. Unique Features: ____________________________________________________
d. Texture: ___________________________________________________________
23. CLEAN UP EVERYTHING. Wrap the chicken parts in the wax paper and newspaper.
Throw it away in the trashcan. Clean the table with solution given by Mrs. Latham and
wash your hands.