DISSECTION MANUAL FOR THE FETAL PIG
Dissection Guide:
1. Fetal Pig Dissection Day 1 – External Anatomy, Oral Cavity, Sexing your pig
2. Fetal Pig Dissection Day 2 – Incision, Digestive System
3. Fetal Pig Dissection Day 3 – The Heart and Respiratory Systems
4. Fetal Pig Dissection Day 4 – Urogenital System / Complete any previous day’s work / Complete & finish packet
**IMPORTANT** Before you leave each day, you must:
 Dispose of any excess skin or other parts in the trash (not in the sink!)
 Wrap your pig in a moist paper towel
 Place your pig in a large plastic bag that is securely tied with your rubber bands
 Label the bag with your name
 Clean up your area (washing table, dissection tray, instruments and YOUR HANDS with soap and water )
 Return all CLEAN & DRY instruments to the proper location & obtain my initials on your daily drawing paper
OBJECTIVES
1. Enhance observation, investigation and identification skills
2. Identify important external structures of the fetal pig
3. Identify major structures associated with a fetal pig’s digestive, respiratory, circulatory, urogenital, & nervous systems.
4. Compare the functions of certain organs in a fetal mammal with those of an adult mammal (human).
BACKGROUND
The majority of mammals in which the developing young, or fetus, grows inside the female’s uterus while attached to a structure are
called the placentals. During gestation (the period during which the embryo develops within the uterus) the placenta is the source of
food and oxygen for the fetus, and it also serves to get rid of fetal wastes. Dissection of the fetal pig in the laboratory setting is
important, because pigs and humans have the similar levels of metabolism and have similar organs and systems. Fetal pigs are a
byproduct of the pork food industry so they aren’t raised for dissection purposes, and they are relatively inexpensive. The fetuses are
removed from the sow and embalmed with a preservative, which is injected through the umbilicus. Arteries (red) are injected through
the umbilicus; veins (blue) are injected through one of the jugular veins at the base of the throat. Usual dissection for a fetal pig
development from fertilization until birth is 112 to 115 days. The pigs to be dissected have developed for at least 100 days and will be
7 to 13 inches in length. The pigs are most convenient to work with because they have pliable bones and no food in the
gastrointestinal cavity.
MATERIALS: Dissection manual, one piggy, dissection tray, scalpel, forceps, metal probe, rubber bands, dissection scissors, colored
pencils, goggles, closed top-of-foot-shoes, one 3 gallon or 2.5 gallon Ziploc bag
**WEAR YOUR GOGGLES AT ALL TIMES! BE SURE TO CLEAN UP EQUIPMENT AND WORKING AREA EACH DAY BEFORE
LEAVING. THE WHOLE GROUP WILL BE DOCKED POINTS FOR LEAVING A MESS!
ABSENCES: If you are absent, we cannot un-dissect the pigs. Visit the virtual pig dissection at http://www.whitman.edu/biology/vpd/
and complete the portions of the porkfolio on your own for that day. You will also need to complete your own drawing for that day you
are absent. You may NOT receive credit for work your group completed on the day you are absent. You will need to do your own.
You are also responsible for the missed information and are expected to know the anatomy for the pig practicum!
*Your missing portion is due on the day you return to school.
_____________________________________
Last, First Name
_____________________________
Signature
______________
Date
GROUP PIG PORKFOLIO DIAGRAMS
One side of a piece of paper may not have more than 1 Day’s drawing. COLOR ACCURACY IS CRITICAL. Fill in the heading for
each drawing at the top of the page. All drawings need to be in chronological order (Day 1  Day 4). At the end of each day, you
need my initials on your group drawing page stating you cleaned and returned all your materials correctly.
Day 1: External Anatomy/Oral Cavity/Sexing the Pig
1. Draw a detailed side view diagram of the external anatomy of your pig and label the following:
a. Anterior, posterior, lateral, dorsal, and ventral in your drawing
b. The approximate age of your pig
c. The sex of your pig
d. The name of your pig
e. Feet, teats, ankle, elbow, umbilical cord, shoulder, wrist, tongue, nares, eye, tail, head, knee, hip
2. Draw a cross section of the umbilical cord and label:
a. Umbilical vein, umbilical artery, allantois, umbilical cord
3. Draw a detailed side view of the mouth opened up and label:
a. Tongue, hard palate, soft palate, nares, esophagus, taste buds, epiglottis, teeth
4. Draw an anterior view of the oral cavity opened up (as shown on page __) of the dissection manual showing the pig’s upper
jaw and lower jaw and label:
a. Tongue, hard palate, soft palate, esophagus, taste buds, epiglottis, teeth
Day 2: The Digestive Tract
1. Draw a detailed labeled, anterior view diagram of the internal anatomy of the pig and label:
a. Esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gall bladder, bile duct, small intestine, mesentery, appendix, large intestine,
spleen, kidneys, diaphragm, and rectum.
b. Draw a more detailed diagram of the liver and gall bladder and describe their appearance (color and texture)
Day 3: The Circulatory and Respiratory Systems
1. Draw a detailed labeled, anterior view diagram of the respiratory system and label:
a. Mouth, pharynx, trachea, larynx, right bronchus, left bronchus, alveoli, diaphragm, and lungs.
b. Draw a detailed labeled side view diagram of a section through the heart and label:
i. Right atrium, right ventricle, pulmonary artery, left atrium, left ventricle, aorta, coronary artery, inferior vena
cava, septum, mitral valve, tricuspid valve, superior vena cava. SHOW WITH ARROWS THE FLOW OF
BLOOD THROUGH THE HEART.
Day 4: Urogenital system – make up day
1. If your pig is a male: Draw the anterior detailed view and label:
a. Scrotal sacs, testis, epididymis, vas deferens, ureter, urethra, penis
2. If your pig is a female: Draw the anterior detailed view and label: ovaries, fallopian tube, uterus, urinary bladder, urethra,
vagina, urogenital opening.
RUBRIC
Day 1 - __/50pts
10 points participation
25 points drawings/labeling
10 points questions
5 Points clean-up
Day 3 - __/50pts
10 points participation
25 points drawings/labeling
10 points questions
5 Points clean-up
Day 2 - __/50pts
10 points participation
25 points drawings/labeling
10 points questions
5 Points clean-up
Day 4 - __/50pts
10 points participation
25 points drawings/labeling
10 points questions
5 Points clean-up
Total Dissection Points:
_________/200 pts.
Porkfolio
Name of Pig: ________________________
Group #_______
Score (200) ________
Absence Date___________
Due Date ______________
____________________________________________
Last, First
Period____________
Issue Date______________
Group #_______
Absence Date___________
Due Date ______________
____________________________________________
Last, First
Period____________
Issue Date______________
Group #_______
Absence Date___________
Due Date ______________
____________________________________________
Last, First
Period____________
Issue Date______________
Group #_______
Absence Date___________
Due Date ______________
Period____________
Issue Date______________
Score (200) ________
Score (200) ________
Score (200) ________
____________________________________________
Last, First