Vet Science
Lung Dissection
1. Carefully remove the heart from the specimen. Place it back in the bucket (we will use it later)
2. Start by orienting yourself to the specimen. You are looking at the front of the lungs. The trachea and
esophagus are in the middle. The second picture shows a long extension, which is another view of the
trachea with the larynx at the top.
How long and wide is your lung?
How long is the trachea?
3. This view is looking into the Larynx. The small flap at the top is the epiglottis.
How large is the opening?
4. Hold open the esophagus. Notice how close these tubes are. The epiglottis protects the trachea and the
respiratory system from food entering and causing the animal or person from choking.
5. Cut open the Larynx. The ridges you see are the vocal cords.
What do the vocal cords feel like?
Do they tear easily?
6. An air pump was inserted into the lungs and pumped several times. Notice how much the lung expands
and how flexible healthy lung tissue is.
7. Locate the trachea and the trachea muscle. Remove the trachea muscle and observe the cartilage rings
of the trachea.
8. Slowly cut the trachea farther down to where it starts branching. The holes you see are the bronchi as
they separate into the lungs.
9. Carefully cut one lung in half lengthwise. Locate the air sacks and the bronchial tubes.
10. Cut away small strips or pieces to try to locate the alveoli. You may use dissection microscopes if
necessary.
11. Write an essay that answers the following questions:

What does the lung feel like?

What do the bronchial tubes look like? What do they feel like?

What do the alveoli look like? How many did you locate?

What do you think the pros/cons of dissecting a lung are?

How does this activity effect your career choice?