what is the best surprise of the exploration of the sheep brain dissection, And what tips you might have for others?

Answer 1

Maybe the most surprising aspect of it is that it's basically a miniature version of the human brain. If the dura mater is preserved in your specimen it's surprising how thick and tough it is - it really helps to demonstrate its function.

I think the best thing you can do is to look at the brain from all different angles (inferior view, sagittal view, etc.) so you can learn what structures are visible from each perspective. Another thing you might not be instructed to do is to explore the lateral ventricles with a probe. Because these ventricles are located within the cerebral hemispheres there's really no good way to see them, but you can at least get a proper sense for how they're oriented in space by doing this. Otherwise, it's a bit tough to visualize.

Finally, if you're looking for a challenge, see how many of the cranial nerves you can isolate. Aside from the olfactory and optic, it's not going to be easy, but it's very rewarding if you can find them. It will also help you to remember from where in the brain stem they originate.