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Dissection is an important part of many biology and
life science courses. Properly planned dissection
activities with clear learning goals allow students
to observe similarities and differences among
organisms and improve student understanding of
anatomy and physiology. Dissection safety requires
knowledge of preservatives and preserved materials,
careful attention to safety precautions, availability
of required safety equipment and proper tools,
instruction of dissection procedures and advanced
planning for clean-up and disposal.
General Guidelines
The rationale for dissection work should be well
thought out and available in written form to answer
any student or community questions that may arise.
Careful and clearly written directions are important
for safe and meaningful dissection work. Some
school districts or states may require that teachers
provide alternative learning activities with full credit
for students who do not participate in dissection labs.
Preservatives and
Preserved Materials
Preserved specimens only should be purchased from
reputable suppliers to ensure that organisms have
been obtained in a responsible manner and handled
in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture
regulations and guidelines. Most specimens are
initially fixed in formaldehyde, which chemically
cross-links proteins and prevents cellular enzymes
from breaking down tissues and organs. Fixation
using formaldehyde results in the hardening of
the tissues and creates more durable specimens.
After the fixing process, excess formaldehyde
is generally removed and replaced with a safer
preservative that contains alcohol or propylene
glycol. Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen,
and formaldehyde vapors are highly irritating to
the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Flinn Scientific
laboratory specimens are packaged to the industry’s
highest standards and are 99.7% free of residual
formaldehyde.
Rinsing procedures are usually specified with
specimens. Follow directions carefully, especially
if the preserved materials will be used over an
extended period of time. With the extremely low levels
of preservative in most specimens, odors are minimal,
but the expected lifetime of a preserved specimen is
also shortened. A certain degree of preservative odor
is likely to linger—good ventilation of the laboratory
is thus critical to protect the health and well-being
of teachers and students engaged in dissection
activities. Work with the school administration to
ensure that laboratory ventilation is adequate to
provide fresh air and to confine any lingering odor
to the laboratory rather than to the entire school.
Store all preserved materials in locked cabinets
or stockroom to restrict student access. Keep the
specimens in their original containers, and inspect all
preserved materials before use. Discard any decaying
or damaged specimens.
Safety Precautions and
Dissection Procedures
• Wear chemical-resistant gloves, chemical-resistant
aprons and chemical splash goggles or safety
glasses for all dissection activities. Work in a
well-ventilated lab only. Open the windows, if
possible, and turn on the hood if one is available.
There should be absolutely no eating, drinking or
gum-chewing during dissection activities.
• Use only quality dissection tools that are sharp
and free of rust. Scalpels are the preferred
instruments—use single-edge scalpels with rigid,
reinforced handles for increased safety. Handle
scalpels, razor blades and other sharp instruments
with care, and do not use excessive force when
working with or cleaning sharp instruments.
• Inspect dissection tools on a routine basis. Dull
and dirty scissors, scalpels or blades are much
more dangerous than sharp, clean ones. Discard
any damaged instruments that cannot be repaired.
• Rinse formaldehyde specimens with water
before dissecting—keep specimens moist but
not drenched. Use wet paper towels or a few
milliliters of a formaldehyde substitute, such as
Formalternate® or water, to wet the specimen
during dissection. Do not use formaldehyde.
• Instruct students on proper dissection techniques
and procedures as well as how to dispose of
sharps. Always cut away from the body and away
from other people. Reposition the specimen or
move to ensure safety.
• Properly mount specimens to the dissection pan or
tray. Do not dissect a specimen while holding it. Cut
gently, and avoid using excessive force. Deep cuts
are more dangerous and may slice through internal
organs. Use scissors to cut bones, including the
rib cage. Dissection pins are used to hold the skin
back and improve visibility—they do not hold the
specimen to the tray. The specimen may slide
during dissection if too much pressure is used.
• Wash hands frequently and before leaving the
laboratory. Teach students about the potential for
inadvertent contamination when they are working
with preserved specimens even while wearing
gloves. Once a glove has touched the specimen or
instrument, it is contaminated. Avoid unconscious
gestures, such as scratching the face or adjusting
safety glasses. Sanitize safety glasses as needed.
Cleanup and Disposal
• Provide adequate time for proper cleanup and
disposal of all dissection materials and the lab.
Rinse dissection tools and pans after each use. If
dissection pans contain rubber inserts, wash and
dry them separately.
• Remove scalpel blades at the end of each
dissection unit and carefully dispose of them in a
sharps container. Clean instruments with Alconox®
detergent solution (1 teaspoon Alconox mixed with 1
L water) rinse with water, and dry thoroughly. Wash
countertops with dilute Lysol® or bleach solution.
• Rinse specimens thoroughly with water and
double-bag, along with gloves and disposable
aprons, in opaque garbage bags. Discard in an
appropriate, secure container.
• Local conditions (e.g., septic systems) and
regulations will determine the proper procedure
for disposal of preserved materials. Teachers and
administrators have a responsibility to be fully
aware of all state and local regulations governing
the disposal of laboratory and biological waste.
Dissection Safety
Dissection Instruments—
Classroom Set
FB1632
Dissection Instruments—
Classroom Set
Save time and money when you purchase dissection instruments in bulk! This classroom set of
high-quality instruments is packaged in a convenient, tough, plastic instrument-sorting tray. The tray
makes moving instruments from class to class easier and allows for faster inventory at the end of each
laboratory. Designed for 30 students working in pairs, the set consists of:
• 1 Sorting Tray • 500 Dissecting Pins • 15 Scalpels
• 15 Fine-point Forceps • 15 Probe and Seekers • 15 Scissors
• 15 Teasing Needles
Save over $50.00 by buying this convenient package.
Catalog No. Description Price/Each
FB1632 Dissection Instruments—Classroom Set $169.00
FB1633 Instrument Sorting Tray 10.30
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