Starfish DissectionVideo coming soonStarfish Dissection
A starfish has a central disk and arms arranged in fives. The water-vascular system runs from the madreporite to the tube feet. This lab looks at the aboral and oral surfaces, then the digestive organs, gonads, and the canals inside an arm.
Starfish DissectionVideo coming soonLearning sequence
- PrepareRead the guide and complete the pre-lab.
- ObserveFollow the guide with the specimen. Examine the outside, then one arm and the central disk.
- RecordComplete the drawings and questions on the lab write-up.
In This Lab You Will
Examine the aboral and oral surfaces.
Open one arm and the central disk.
Trace the water-vascular system from the madreporite to the tube feet.
Identify the digestive organs and the gonads.
Complete the pre-lab and the lab write-up.
Materials
Dissection scissors, forceps, a scalpel, and a dissecting needle.
Safety
Read each section of the guide before you cut. Work so you do not damage the organs under the body wall.
Photos & Anatomy References
Select an image to enlarge it. These are the starfish lab photos from the Life Labs collection.
Lab photos from the Mr. E Science Life Labs collection.