Dissecting Board

Quick Answer: A dissecting board is a flat board on which specimens are laid out, pinned and cut during biology practicals. It gives a firm surface that takes pins, and it is used for plant dissections, drained preserved specimens and insect work.

Board, Tray or Dish?

A board, a tray and a dish do overlapping jobs. The dissecting board is the simplest: a flat, firm surface that pins can be pushed into. A dissecting tray adds raised sides that hold fluid and allow dissection under water, and a dissecting dish is smaller and deeper still. For dry work, such as a flower dissection, a preserved specimen that has been drained, or pinning out insects, a flat board is quicker to use and to clean.

The listing does not state what the board is made of. Such boards are made from softwood, cork, compressed fibre board, or rigid plastic with a wax or rubber layer, and each behaves differently: soft materials hold pins well but absorb fluids, while sealed or plastic surfaces are easier to disinfect. If your practicals involve wet specimens, ask about a sealed surface.

For plant work, many teachers lay a sheet of paper on the board. Students pin each part in position as they separate it and write its name beside it, so the finished dissection doubles as a labelled record of the practical.

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Wipe the dissecting board after each practical and disinfect it after animal material with a product suited to its surface.
• Do not soak wooden or cork boards, which warp and split when waterlogged; let them dry flat.
• Replace boards so pitted by pins that they no longer grip.

Applications

• Flower and fruit dissections in which parts are laid out and labelled in order
• Pinning out insects or small preserved specimens for observation with a hand lens
• A firm cutting surface for razor sections of stems, roots and leaves
• Preparing specimen displays for exhibitions and practical examinations

Why Choose LabEquip

Dissecting boards are bought in class sets by schools running plant-based practicals and by colleges that pin insects and small specimens. LabEquip lists the board in its Biology Lab Products range.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a dissecting board and a dissecting tray?

A board is flat and is used for dry work. A tray has raised sides that contain fluids and allow dissection under water.

Which specimens suit a flat board?

Flowers, fruits, seeds, drained preserved specimens and insects, where there is little fluid and the parts need to be spread out and pinned.

What surface holds pins well?

Soft surfaces such as cork, softwood or a wax or rubber layer grip pins well. Hard plastic without a pinning layer will not hold them.

Can the board be used for cutting plant sections?

Yes. It gives a firm surface for cutting sections of stems or leaves with a razor or scalpel, although a separate cutting pad avoids scoring the pinning surface.

How do I clean a wooden board?

Wipe it with a damp cloth and a mild disinfectant, then let it dry flat. Avoid soaking, which makes wood swell and crack.

Why lay paper over the board for plant dissections?

The paper can be labelled as the parts are pinned in place, which makes a quick record of the practical and keeps the board surface clean.

Last Updated: September 2026