Our Grade 12 Biology class recently performed a sheep brain dissection that transformed the abstract neuroanatomy taught in class into a tangible experience. Students began the dissection by examining the external anatomy such as the distinctive ridges and grooves of the brain and comparing the different outer membrane layers intended to protect the brain. Once the outer membrane was removed, the students identified the key regions like the cerebrum, responsible for higher-order thinking, and the cerebellum, which coordinates movement.
The real “aha!” moment occurred during the midsagittal cut, which revealed the internal structures. The students observed the corpus callosum, the bridge connecting the two hemispheres, and saw the contrast between gray matter and white matter. This dissection also allowed the students to trace pathways through the central nervous system to endocrine glands, providing a 3D understanding of how the nervous system regulates everything from basic survival through homeostasis to complex emotions.
– Ms. Karen Hawrylyshyn, Senior School Math & Science Teacher
