Fetal Pig Dissection and Autopsy Procedures
Day 1: External structures, oral cavity, throat dissection and muscles.
• Look for physical injuries, materials under the fingernails, inside the mouth, etc.
• Dissect oral cavity, throat and body as instructed.
• Record all findings on Structures To Know For The Fetal Pig Practicum Worksheet for Day 1.
Day 2: Open thoracic and abdominal cavities but leave all organs in place.
• Dissect thoracic and abdominal cavities as instructed.
• Identify all organs and complete Structures To Know For The Fetal Pig Practicum Worksheet for Day 2.
Day 3: Thoracic Cavity Close Examination
A. Heart
• Take the heart out removing some of the connecting arteries and veins connected to it.
• Identify all four chambers by name, aorta, and coronary arteries.
• Cut the heart in half so that all four chambers will be cut in half.
• Identify all four chambers by name, aorta, and coronary arteries and septum.
• Record all findings on Structures To Know For The Fetal Pig Practicum Worksheet for Day 3.
B. Respiratory system
• Remove tissue to expose the trachea, larynx, and branching of bronchi.
• Cut the trachea above the larynx and remove the respiratory system.
• Cut open the larynx to find the vocal cords.
• Slice the lung lobes into thin sections. Observe cross sections of the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles.
• Record all findings on Structures To Know For The Fetal Pig Practicum Worksheet for Day 3.
Day 4: Abdominal Cavity Close Examination
C. Liver
• Remove all lobes of the liver.
• Look to see that the gall bladder is intact.
• Slice the liver into sections and look for yellowing. Yellowing indicates cirrhosis of the liver, often a
fatal condition. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver tissue caused by alcohol abuse or hepatitis C.
D. Digestive Tract
• Remove tissue to expose the entire digestive tract from the esophagus to the rectum.
• Remove the entire digestive tract.
• Cut the mesenteries (clear membrane holding the intestines together) and stretch out the digestive tract.
• Measure the length of the pig from mouth to anus. Measure one lab partner from mouth to anus.
Calculate the length of each digestive organ in your lab partner’s body using math and the measurements
of the pig. Record your answers on the Structures To Know For The Fetal Pig Worksheet.
E.
Excretory System
• Expose the entire excretory system: kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra
• Remove a kidney and slice it in half to see how urine collects into the ureter.
Day 5: The Reproductive System
F. Reproductive System
• Expose the entire system
• Before removing any reproductive parts, take a look at another body of the other sex.
• Remove each part and lay it on a paper towel in the same pattern it would be inside the body.
• Record all findings on Structures To Know For The Fetal Pig Practicum Worksheet for Day 5
Name__________________________________________________________________Period_______________Date__________________________________________
Structures To Know For The Pig Practicum
Day 1
Oral Cavity
Organ System It Belongs To
Function
8.
Incisors
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
9.
Canines
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
10. Premolars and molars
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
11. Hard palate
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
12. Soft palate
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
13. Tongue
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
14. Tongue papillae
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
15. Epiglottis
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
16. External nostrils
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
17. Umbilical cord
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
18. Anus
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
19. Genital Papilla (female)
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
20. Scrotum (male)
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
21. Umbilical artery
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
22. Umbilical vein
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
External Structures
Day 2
Thoracic Cavity
Organ System It Belongs To
Function
23. Larynx
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
24. Trachea
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
25. Lungs
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
26. Heart
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Abdominal Cavity
27. Diaphragm
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
28. Peritoneum
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
29. Mesenteries
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
30. Liver
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
31. Gall Bladder
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
32. Pancreas
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
33. Stomach
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
34. Small Intestine
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
35. Large Intestine
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
36. Rectum
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
37. Anal Sphincter
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
38. Spleen
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
39. Kidney
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
40. Bronchi
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
41. Right Atrium
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
42. Left Atrium
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
43. Right Ventricle
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
44. Left Ventricle
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
45. Septum
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
46. Aorta
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
47. Coronary Arteries_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Day 3
Thoracic Cavity
In the space below draw a cross section of the heart. Label the atriums, ventricles, septum, aorta, pulmonary vein, pulmonary artery, and vena cava. Color
chambers and blood vessels carrying oxygen depleted blood blue. Color chambers and blood vessels carrying oxygen rich blood red.
Day 4
Abdominal Cavity
48. Rugae
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
49. Cardiac Valve
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
50. Pyloric
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
51. Duodenum
_________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
52. Jejunum
_________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
53. Ileum
_________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
54. Caecum
_________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Calculate and compare the lengths of the digestive organs in the pig and in humans. Refer to procedures for more information.
Pig
Mouth to Anus:
Esophagus:
Stomach:
Small Intestine:
Large Intestine:
Lab Partner_______
Draw a diagram of the digestive tract, starting with the mouth and ending with the anus.
Label all the parts of the digestive system.
Make a list of organs of the digestive system. Order
the organs to indicate the flow of food.
Day 5
Reproductive System
51. Ureter
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
52. Uterus (female) _________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
53. Ovary (female)
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
54. Cervix (female) _________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
55. Vagina (female) _________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
56. Cowpers Gland (male)
__________________
________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
58. Epididymis (male)_________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
59. Vas Deferens (male)_______________________
________________________________________________________________________________
57. Testes (male)