Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Leech Neurophysiology Lab
In Anatomy at the beginning of the quarter our class participated in a leech dissection. Don't worry! No leeches were actually harmed in this little activity- it was virtual! This lab was all about neurophysiology. Our goal was to record the different electrical activities of neurons while we performed mechanical stimulus to the attached skin. We also injected dye into the neurons to help us identify them.
Materials:
Materials:
- Feather
- Probe
- Forceps
- Scissors
- Pins
- Scalpel
- Dissection Tray
- Leech Tank
- 20% Ethanol
- Leech Tongs
- Dissection Microscope
- Micromanipulator
- Oscilloscope
- Leech
Procedures:
Step 1- Use the 20% Ethanol to anesthetized the leech.
Step 2- Pin the dorsal side of the leech up so that it is stretched open.
Step 3- Use the scissors to make a mid-line cut.
Step 4- Use the forceps and pins to pull and pin back the skin of the leech so that the insides are visible.
Step 5- Gently remove the internal structures so that the nerve cord is exposed.
Step 6- Notice the swellings on the sinus which contains the segmental ganglia of the nervous system. Cut a small piece in the body wall located underneath the ganglion.
Step 7- Make two parallel cuts across the leech and turn it anterior side up and pin it down.
Step 8- Cut sinus with a scalpel andd use the forceps to move things around until the ganglion.
Step 9- Take it and insect it under a microscope.
Step 10- Take the electrode over the ganglion and stimulate the process of penetrating the cell.
Step 11- Look at the oscilloscope to see if you found a cell.
Step 12- Use the feather, probe, and forceps and watch how the cell responds.
Step 13- Use the data that you have gathered and compare it to the atlas.
Step 14- Dye the cell then use the UV Switch so that you can see the cell structure.
Step 15- Use all the neuroanatomical and the electrophysical data to identify the cell. Once identified repeat steps 10-15 untill you have identified all 5 cells.
Conclusion:
Once I identified all of the different types of cells in the cyber lab, a picture popped up and it showed where each type of cell could be found. I know know where the cells are placed in the ganglion. I also learned that each of the different cells reacts differently to the different stimuli like the feather, probe, and forceps. It all goes to show that even the smallest things in our bodies play a major part in the way we funtion.
Step 9- Take it and insect it under a microscope.
Step 10- Take the electrode over the ganglion and stimulate the process of penetrating the cell.
Step 11- Look at the oscilloscope to see if you found a cell.
Step 12- Use the feather, probe, and forceps and watch how the cell responds.
Step 13- Use the data that you have gathered and compare it to the atlas.
Step 14- Dye the cell then use the UV Switch so that you can see the cell structure.
Step 15- Use all the neuroanatomical and the electrophysical data to identify the cell. Once identified repeat steps 10-15 untill you have identified all 5 cells.
Conclusion:
Once I identified all of the different types of cells in the cyber lab, a picture popped up and it showed where each type of cell could be found. I know know where the cells are placed in the ganglion. I also learned that each of the different cells reacts differently to the different stimuli like the feather, probe, and forceps. It all goes to show that even the smallest things in our bodies play a major part in the way we funtion.
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