Anatomy and Physiology
Fisher
Pig Dissection
Directions:
Locate each of the listed structures on your fetal pig specimen. As you locate the
structure, put a checkmark next to the name of the structure. At the end of each section, you will see a
signal to STOP. When you reach this point, please raise your hand and Ms. Fisher will come over to your
table. At that time, you will need to quickly and efficiently show Fisher the structures on the specimen.
Fisher will stamp that section, indicating completion. Once the stamp is provided, please continue to
the next section. Please refer to the Laboratory Anatomy of the Fetal Pig to help you identify the
locations of the various structures as well as their functions. By the end of the dissection, you should be
familiar with not only the location, but also the function of each of the structures you identify.
EXTERNAL ANATOMY (Chapter 1, p. 1)
Structure
ID (√)
Lips
Mouth
Tongue
External Nares
Nose
Eyes
Upper Eyelid
Lower Eyelid
Nictitating Membrane (remnant)
Ears
Pinna
External Auditory Meatus
Thorax
Abdomen
Teats
Umbilical Cord
Hand
Digits
Hoof
Urogenital Orifice
Anus
Tail
STAMP:______________
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THE HEAD AND VISCERAL CAVITIES (Chapter 4, p. 31
Tie the pig to the dissection pan using string or small rope. Encircle one wrist with string, pass the string
under the pan and tie it to the other wrist being sure to spread the arms of the pig and secure the pig
tightly in the tray. Repeat with ankles.
Turn to p. 31 and cut open the mouth by following the instructions in italics at the bottom of the 1st
column.
HEAD
Structure
ID (√)
Vestibule
Incisors
Canines
Premolars
Molars
Frenulum
Papillae (on tongue)
Hard Palate
Soft Palate
Pharynx
Isthmus Faucium
Nasopharynx
Auditory (Eustachian) Tube Openings
Glottis
Epiglottis
STAMP:______________
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Use both the diagram Mapping Incisions as well as the instructions in italics on p. 34 under Coelomic
Membranes and Viscera to open the abdominal and thoracic cavities of the pig. Read the section
entitled Thoracic Cavities on p. 34.
THORACIC
Structure
ID (√)
Structure
ID (√)
Parietal Pleura
Visceral Pleura
Visceral Pericardia
Mediastinum
ABDOMINAL
Greater Omentum
Lienogastric Mesentary
Esophagus
Liver
Gallbladder
Stomach
Spleen
Small Intestines
Pancreas
Large Intestine
Kidneys
STAMP:______________
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THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM (Chapter 5, p. 39)
Because the thymus of the fetus is so large, you will need to carefully remove it in order to view the
bronchi leading to the lungs. Use your scalpel to slice open one lobe of the lung to locate the
bronchioles and alveoli. You may use a hand lens or microscope for closer view.
Structure
ID (√)
Trachea (relocate)
Bronchi
Lungs (how many lobes on each lung?)
Bronchioles
Alveoli
THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM (Chapter 6, p. 42)
Read pp. 42-44 of the manual. When you get to the stomach, slit it open to identify the rugae.
Structure
ID (√)
Esophagus (relocate)
Greater curvature of the stomach
Lesser curvature of the stomach
Pylorus
Pyloric sphincter
Duodenum
Jejunum
Ileum
Colon (notice spiral ascending colon)
Rectum
Anus
Liver (how many lobes?)
STAMP:______________
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THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM (Chapter 7, p. 50)
Before beginning this section, read p. 50 carefully as well as Circulation in the Fetal Pig pp. 62-64.
Structure
ID (√)
Parietal Pericardium
Visceral Pericardium
Right Atrium
Caudal Vena Cava
Left Atrium
Apex
Left Ventricle
Right Ventricle
Do not cut any of the structures, but refer to the diagrams on pp. 56 and 57 to identify each structure.
Structure
ID (√)
Coronary Artery
Aortic Arch
Brachiocephalic a.
Left Subclavian a.
Thoracic aorta
Celiac a.
Renal a.
Abdominal Aorta
Internal Iliac a.
Femoral a.
Umbilical a.
Caudal Vena Cava
Hepatic Portal v.
Pulmonary Trunk
STAMP:______________
Turn to p. 53 of text and follow the instructions in italics to dissect out the heart. Follow italicized
instructions on removing latex as well.
Structure
ID (√)
Semilunar valves
Trabeculae Carneae
Tricuspid
Bicuspid
STAMP:______________
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THE URINARY AND REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS (Chapter 8, p. 65)
Read p. 65 and follow all dissection instructions in italics.
Structure
ID (√)
Kidney
Hilus
Ureter
Renal Pelvis
Renal Sinus
Renal Papillae
Renal Cortex
Renal Medulla
Urinary Bladder
Urethra
STAMP:______________
Read pp. 67-74. Use the information here and the diagrams to try to identify the gender of your
specimen. Once you have followed the reproductive tract of your specimen, be prepared to show Ms.
Fisher the organs you’ve found to support your conclusion.
MALE
Structure
ID (√)
Structure
ID (√)
Testes
Penis
Epididymis
Vas Deferens
FEMALE
Ovaries
Uterus
Vagina
Urogenital Papilla
STAMP:______________
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Post-Lab Questions
1. The systems of the pig are very similar to humans, this is how we can use pig organs to
replace or repair our own human organs. What is an explanation for this?
2. Although similar, pigs have differences in their anatomy from humans. What is the
difference between the pig lungs and the human lungs? Use a diagram to show this
difference. What is the functional unit of the lung? How does gas exchange take place at
the membrane of this functional unit? (use your textbook to support your answer).
3. How does fetal circulation differ from adult circulation? Please use a diagram to help
explain your answer. Include in your answer where the source of oxygen is for a fetus,
compared to an adult.
4. What are the major differences you noticed in the digestive tract of the pig, compared to
the human tract? This can be explained by what type of animal the pig is, compared to
humans. What type of animal is the pig? Use this information to help you explain the
differences in the digestive tract. (See pp. 42-44).
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5. Read the section: Histology of the Kidney on pp. 65-66 of the manual. The kidney of the pig
functions in the same way as the kidney of the human. What are the functional units of the
kidney (of which there are almost 1 million in humans)? How does one functional unit
perform all of the functions of the kidney? Explain these functions. Use a diagram to show
where in the functional unit of the kidney these take place.
6. In the female reproductive systems of the frog, the pig, and the human, there are distinct
differences. One of these differences is apparent in the way substances exit the body of the
female. The frog has one final chamber the cloaca, the pig has a vestibule in the urogenital
papilla, the human has neither of these. Describe these differences and how they show
change over time. Which system is more efficient, why?
7. Based on the anatomy of the pig, how would you expect the brainstem to be oriented?
Explain.
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Time Permitting
SPECIAL SENSE ORGANS (Chapter 10, p. 88)
Structure
ID (√)
STAMP:______________
THE ENDOCRINE GLANDS (Chapter 11, p. 93)
Structure
ID (√)
STAMP:______________
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM (Chapter 9, p. 75)
Structure
ID (√)
STAMP:______________
THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM (Chapter 3, p. 13)
Structure
ID (√)
STAMP:______________
THE SKELETAL SYSTEM (Chapter 2, p. 6)
Structure
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ID (√)
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Fisher
STAMP:______________
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