Through the dissection of the rat, my lab partner and I were able to gain a better understanding of the animal’s anatomy by viewing it’s external organs, as well, after careful incisions, viewing the inside of the rat’s anatomy. The rat is a typical mammal, with a head, clearly defined neck, trunk and tail. As such, the rat has two unique aspects that distinguish mammals from other vertebrates: an external covering of hair and mammary glands. As a vertebrate mammal, much of the rat’s structural organization is common with humans. The similarity of structures among both organisms, rats and humans, is evidence of common ancestry; thus, it can be said that examining a rat is similar to studying a human. To start off our dissection, my partner
