This post is rated 16+ with MT and O for graphic photographs
that show the dissection of an animal and that material might
be found offensive to some.
Anatomy is a science of structure. A science of the how the bodies of animals and humans are structured how they function. As humans, we learn by doing, and this deed is something necessary to be done in order to know the structures of animals-- and later, ourselves. It advances not only our understanding when our pets or animals become sick, but it helps us to learn how to operate on them-- and again later-- on ourselves.
In this post, we will see the dissection of an adult cat. In this, as the last post, I asked the question whether the dissection-- let alone the photographing-- was ethical. Some gave me a "yes," others gave me a "no." I particularly believe that it is ethical in photographing the dissection. To dissect the animal is another case to be determined later, although, as pointed out in this PETA article, there are better ways to learn without killing first.
And in case you are wondering, the teacher did give an alternative assignment for those who did not feel they were able (or capable) to dissect a cat.
First we began by measuring the cat. This one measured about 25 inches. Then we laid the cat out in the box and began to make incisions running down the lengths of its legs and abdomen. This part of the skinning process in order to reveal is skeletal structure later on. 
After the incisions were made, we began to cut the skin at those places. We used a pair of scissors to follow the incision lines from the rear legs all the way to the head.
Once we had separated the skin from either side, we began to separate the skin from the underside fat that was attached to the muscles. Due to the length of the cat, this required a few hands. Some pulling, others holding the cat down.
Once we got separated the skin to a point, we began to use scalpels to detach the rest of the skin from the muscles. This continued for some of the first day and most of the second day. We were able to flay most of the cat, except at the paws on the legs and head, where there wasn't enough fat underneath to allow for easy removal.
At the half-way point of the second day, we were successful in removing the skin off the carcass. With some time still remaining, we began by making an incision down the abdomen (this time, in the muscle), so we could began to show the internal organs. |
| The skin left on the legs due to the shortage of fat underneath |
This was our product half-way through the second day. This is, ladies and gentlemen, the skinned carcass of an adult cat.
With time remaining, we exposed the internal organs of the abdominal cavity. We had to cut through the peritoneum, chosen not to upload, in order to get to the organs. Once in, we began to examine the digestive organs and everything below the chest. That marked the end of the second day.
At the beginning of the third day, we began to examine closely the digestive organs of the cat. There was a large, firm structure that spread across the top part of the abdomen. In the photograph on the left, the structure near the middle is the liver. To the right of that are the intestines.
During our examination of the digestive organs, we found many blood vessels that were still filled with blood of the animal. In this state, the blood was a stringy mass that was flexible. In the photograph to the right, we pulled on it until it ripped. We didn't go further in.
We also went behind the cavity to expose the excretory organs and spinal column. In the photograph on the left, we have one of the dissectors holding the right kidney of the cat. This was only possible after removal of the digestive organs.
We also began to explore above the diaphragm, where we exposed the lungs and heart (that photograph not uploaded). Once we separated the heart, we opened it and saw a lot of coagulated blood inside, perfectly preserved in the heart and its chambers.
And that concludes day three.
This is the last dissection I hope for a long time. I don't think I can stomach the feeling or the stench (where it smelled like expired apple juice/vinegar) again.
