Fig. 3.

The process of removing a lizard brain. (A) The head is pinned to the dissection pad (step 4.15). The anterior pins are inserted through the nostrils, and the posterior pins through the upper temporal fenestras. (B) The posterior dorsal skin is removed, exposing the spinal column and base of the skull (step 4.16). (C) The membranes covering the brain are cut away from the gap between the skull and the spinal cord, exposing the brain (step 4.17). (D) The skin is removed from the dorsal surface of the head, including the eyes (step 5.2). (E) The spinal cord is exposed by removing the spine (step 5.4). (F) The skull is removed, exposing the dura-covered brain (steps 5.6–5.8). (G) The dura is removed (step 5.9). (H) The brain is carefully lifted and the ventral nerves severed (steps 5.12–5.13). The brain is now free of the head and can be removed.