Chicken Wing Dissection
The chicken’s wing is an organ made of different tissues. The chicken has homologous
structures to the human arm. Both organs allow movement and are part of the skeletal
and muscular organ systems.
Problem: What similarities are there between the chicken wing and a human arm?
What differences are there between the chicken wing and a human arm?
Procedure: Carefully cut open the chicken wing from outside to inside. Fill in tables as
you go.
description
function
skin
Flexible outer covering
Protection
Fat
Yellow and soft
Often found under skin
Insulate body and
store energy
Muscle
The “meat” bundles
Movement
Find two muscles in the
wing that bend and
straighten the elbow joint.
Hold the wing down at
shoulder and pull on each
muscle
Tendon
Each muscle bundle is
surrounded by a thin
sheet that looks like
“plastic wrap”. This
tissue is pulled together to
form strong cords . Pull
on a tendon.
Blood
Find thin red blood vessels
by cutting out some
muscle.
Move needed
materials to and
from the cells
Nerve
Continue to remove
muscle. Look for thin,
white, threadlike fibers
close to the bone
Communicate
with brain
Ligament
Strong tough cords
Holds bone to
bones
Observations
Joints
Two bones come together
at a joint. Bend elbow
joint and observe how
they fit together
Cartilage
White, smooth, slippery
tissue found between
bones at joints
Allows different
movements
Bones
Analysis:
1. Which type of tissue actually moves the chicken wing? ______________________
2. Why are tendons important to a muscle’s ability to move a bone?
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3. Why is cartilage important to a muscle’s ability to move a bone?
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4. How do bones and muscles work together to enable movement?
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Conclusion: Answer the problem questions
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