necropsy

i failed to write about my first NECROPSY! (or animal autopsy). i got to assist with a female gray seal necropsy today with the stranding network and it was AWESOME. i really only got to write down information about the different organ systems as the others were cutting them out of the body cavity, but i got to touch a lot of the organs. before we were started they were really excited about some unusal scars on the seals stomach because they couldn't figure out what they were from. but we were in for a TREAT (??) when we cut her open. she had an enlarged lymph node that was rather odd, but as we moved down her body we found a huge tumor mass in the abdominal cavity that was attached to what we thought was the liver.....but it was actually an enlarged spleen that was about 10 times the size it should have been! i was informed that that was probably going to be the most exciting necropsy i was going to experience, as the others had never seen anything like that seal before. either way.....i enjoyed every second of it and i can't wait to do it again and hopefully be able to cut up some stuff! (& i don't care how morbid that sounds!)

all suited up & ready to go!.....

misty & CT starting to cut open the seal.....