Dissecting Pins For Specimen Pinning

Dissecting Pins

Corrosion-Resistant Composition: Forged from high-tensile nickel-plated steel, these pins are engineered to resist oxidation and prevent specimen staining during prolonged exposure to biological preservatives and moisture.

High-Penetration T-Head Design: Features a reinforced T-bar head and a 51mm (2-inch) shaft with a precision-tapered point, facilitating low-resistance entry into dense muscular tissue without inducing excessive tearing.

₹165.00

Quick Answer: Dissecting pins are steel pins used to fix a specimen and hold back its skin and body wall on a wax tray, board or dish during dissection. They keep the structures exposed so that both hands are free for the instruments.

Pinning a Specimen Properly

A dissection goes well or badly depending on the pinning. The specimen is first fixed at a few points so it cannot slide, and then each flap of skin or body wall is pinned back as it is cut free, opening the specimen like a book. Pins should go in at an angle of about 45 degrees, with their heads leaning away from the specimen, so they hold firmly and stay out of the way of scissors and forceps.

The listing does not describe the head or length of these pins; the image file name refers to a pack of ten. Pins of this kind are commonly made with a small ball or bead head that is easy to grip and see, whereas T-pins have a wide T-shaped head that is pushed with the thumb and lies flat over a flap. Both work in wax, cork and other soft pinning surfaces.

Steel pins left wet will rust and stain specimens, and bent pins tear tissue, so count pins out and back and discard any that are bent or corroded.

Care & Handling

Count the pins out and back at every practical so none are left in specimens or waste.
Rinse, dry and store them in a closed box or pushed into a foam block.
Discard bent or rusty pins; they tear tissue and stain specimens.

Applications

Fixing preserved specimens and pinning back skin and body wall in zoology practicals
Holding flower parts in position on a board while they are drawn and labelled
Anchoring specimens in a wax-based dish for dissection under water
Fixing labels beside structures for practical examinations and displays

Specifications

Item	Pins for fixing specimens during dissection
Material	Steel; finish and head type not stated in the listing
Pinning surfaces	Wax, cork, foam or softwood
Technique	Inserted at about 45 degrees, heads leaning away from the specimen
Quantity and length	Confirm at enquiry (image file name refers to a pack of 10)

Why Choose LabEquip

Pins are a consumable, so biology departments reorder them every term. LabEquip lists them with the dissecting tray in its Biology Lab Products range.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what angle should dissecting pins be inserted?

At about 45 degrees, with the head leaning away from the specimen. This holds the tissue firmly and keeps the pin heads out of the way of the instruments.

What is the difference between dissecting pins and T-pins?

Dissecting pins usually have a small ball or bead head. T-pins have a wide T-shaped head that is easier to push with a thumb and lies flat over a flap of tissue.

What surface do the pins need?

A soft surface that grips the pin: wax, cork, foam or softwood. Pins cannot be pushed into a bare metal or hard plastic tray.

Can the pins be reused?

Yes, if they are rinsed and dried after each practical and are still straight. Discard pins that are bent or have started to rust.

Where should pins be placed first in a dissection?

Fix the specimen at a few points so it cannot slip, then pin each flap of skin or body wall back as it is cut free.

Can these pins be used for insect collections?

Entomology collections use special insect pins, which are thinner, longer and rust-resistant. Ordinary pins of this type are better suited to holding specimens during dissection.

Last Updated: September 2026