56
Physiology Cover Page
57
Physiology / Fetal Pig Dissection
At the end of this unit, I will:

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build a model that demonstrates the hierarchical
organization of interacting systems. I will
demonstrate understanding of the structure and
function of organs and organ systems and how they
work cooperatively within an organism.
be able to carefully dissect, reveal, and identify
anatomical features of a fetal pig and explain the
functions of key organs and organ systems
highlighted, including but not limited to the lymphatic/immune system, digestive system, and the
circulatory system.
solidify my understanding of homeostasis. Specifically, I will be able to explain feedback mechanisms that
control and regulate blood sugar. I will be able to justify which tissues, organs, or organ systems that are
necessary to fulfill this task.
Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes I will be able to understand when I see them in words are:

cardio-, veno-, arterio- lymph-, ova-, spermato-, reno-, caudo-, cephalo-, hemo-, lympho-, spleno-, thymo-,
laryngo-, naso-, pharyngo-, tracheo-, esophago-, colo-, pancreato-, gastro-, nephron-, uretero-, urethro-,
sebo-, gonado-, utero-
The terms I can clearly define are:



Group 1: cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism
Group 2: cardiovascular system, muscular system, lymphatic system, immune system, respiratory
system, digestive system, urinary system, nervous system, integumentary system, endocrine system,
reproductive system, skeletal system.
Group 3: Complement System, Phagocytes, Macrophages, Lymphocytes, T-cells, B-cells, Antigens,
Antibodies, Plasma Cells, Memory Cells
The assignments I will have completed by the end of this unit are:
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Physiology Cover Page
Physiology Pre-reading
Organ System Accordion Foldable
Working Together (System Interaction Foldable and Draft)
“Flap Book” on System Interactions
Fetal Pig Virtual Dissection
Fetal Pig Dissection
Blood Glucose Homeostasis Activity
Engineering Practices: Design a Circulatory Pathway
Holly Jones Gets the Flu
Fetal Pig Dissection Practical
58
Physiology Pre-Reading
Refer to textbook pages below. Use the index in the back of your textbook to
help you locate specific topics.
Pages 10, 908, all of unit 9 (pages 932-1097)
Define the terms
below:
Homeostasis
Stimulus
Negative feedback
To the right, create a
flow chart showing
how the pancreas
regulates blood sugar.
Be sure to use the
phrases below:





When blood
glucose is low
When blood
glucose is
high
Insulin
Blood glucose
increases
Blood glucose
decreases
What is a hormone?
(Define in your own
words). Label the
hormone in the
diagram to the right.
59
Label the neuron to
the left using the terms
below:





Dendrite
Cell body
Nucleus
Axon
Axon endings
Define a “nerve
impulse”.
Both sensory neurons
and motor neurons
send an electrical
signal within the
nervous system. How
are these two neurons
different?
To the right are the 4
main functions of the
integumentary system.
Explain how skin aids
each function.

Temperature regulation

Vitamin production

Protection

Senses
60
Complete the chart to
the right.
Cell
Neutrophils
Function
Macrophages
Lymphocytes (B cells & T
cells)
Create a Venn
diagram comparing
and contrasting
passive and active
immunity in the
immune system.
Define:
 Pathogen
 Antibody
 Antigen
 B cells
 T cells
61
Complete the table to
the right by placing a
check mark in one or
both columns.
Viruses
Bacteria
Vaccines protect against…
Antibiotics are used to treat…
Antibodies defend against…
Are considered “alive”
Produce interferons
Ex. HIV
Needs a host cell to reproduce
Explain how vaccines
work. Use the
following terms in
your explanation:



Antibodies
Inject
Future
infection
HIV, or human
immunodeficiency
virus, can lead to
AIDS. Write a
paragraph to the right
that answers these
questions:
 What types of
cells does HIV
attack?
 How is HIV
transmitted?
 How does
AIDS affect the
body?
62
Label “sensory
neuron” and “motor
neuron” on the image
to the right.
Create a Venn
diagram comparing
and contrasting the
endocrine system and
nervous system.
63
Briefly explain the
overall function of the
circulatory system,
and then answer the
questions below.



What organs
are part of the
circulatory
system?
What other
organ systems
does the
circulatory
system interact
with?
What
substances
does the
circulatory
system
transport?
Explain the purpose of
the excretory system.
What is urea?
64
Topic: Immune System: Holly Jones Gets the Flu
1. Which part of the body must the
influenza-B virus reach in order to
survive and multiply?
2. How does the influenza-B virus
trick healthy cells?
3. About how many influenza-B
viruses will be produced within a
couple of hours of initial infection?
4. What is the human body's front
line of defense against the
influenza-B virus?
5. What do macrophages do?
6. What is the cause of symptoms of
the flu?
7. What is the role of interleukin in
the immune response?
8. Why do you get a fever in response
to the flu?
9. What is a major role of dendritic
cells in fighting the influenza-B
virus?
10. Where are T-cells located?
11. What is the role of the T-cell in
fighting infection?
12. What is the role of B-cells in
fighting infection?
13. What happens to the T-cells that
don’t die?
14. Will a person who has had the
influenza-B virus have immunity
from ALL flu viruses in the future?
1.
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Body Systems Accordion Foldable
Attach your body systems accordion foldables here, once they are completed. Each of the body
systems should be colored. Glue the body systems together into two separate accordion
foldables.
66
Body Systems Warm-up:
What body systems do you think are involved in the following activities?
2. I’ve got to (ah – ah – ah – choo) sneeze.
3. “Ouch!” I yell. “That bee just stung me”.
4. Drinking this cola makes me cold.
5. I cut myself. Now I’m bleeding.
6. I’m eating some really hot soup.
7. I am singing in the shower.
8. Please wait for me. I need to run to the bathroom.
9. I had the flu, but I’m better now.
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68
Working Together
Directions:
Our class will be creating a “body book” to demonstrate how the different body systems work
together to perform daily tasks and maintain homeostasis. Before we create our final flap
books, you will brainstorm which body systems work together to perform your activity.




Your teacher will pass out activity cards.
Place your activity card in the center of page 68.
Think about which systems the body uses to complete your activity card. Choose the
four most important systems, and glue those system cards onto page 68.
Below, describe how each body system interacts with the others to complete the task
that you were assigned. Be sure to include at least 6 interactions.
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Intentionally Left Blank
Use for additional notes, brainstorming, diagrams, or activities
70
On-line Virtual Pig Dissection
To prepare ourselves for the task of dissection, we will explore a virtual dissection online. It is
your task to complete the following quizzes prior to dissection in class. Due dates will be
assigned by your individual classroom teacher. To complete the virtual dissection, go to the
following web-page to complete the quizzes on pages 498 – 505 of your interactive notebook:
http://www.whitman.edu/biology/vpd/main.html
During this dissection, we will be exploring the following systems in detail.
Digestive System – Day One
• Respiratory System – Day Two
• Circulatory System – Day Two
• Excretory System – Day Three
• Reproductive System – Day Three
•
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Anatomical References Quiz
Label the regions: Pelvic region, Cranial region, Caudal region, Pectoral regions
Label the regions: Ventral, Posterior, Dorsal, Anterior
Point of Reference
A
B
Circle the correct choice
1. On the pig above, letter A is (medial, lateral). Letter B is (medial, lateral)
2. With respect to marker A, marker B is (proximal, distal) to the point of reference.
3. With respect to marker B, marker A is (proximal, distal) to the point of reference.
72
Sexing Your Pig Quiz
1. An easy way to determine the sex of your pig is to check for the presence or absence of
nipples. True or False?
2. Only the male pig has a urogenital opening. True or False?
3. The male fetal pig has a developing scrotal sac, a penis, and a urogenital papilla. True or
False?
4. The pig featured below is what sex?
5. Label the diagram using the following terms. Urogenital papilla, umbilical cord, teats
(nipples), anus
73
Respiratory System Quiz
Fill in the blank using the following terms: lungs, bronchi, diaphragm, nares, trachea.
Following each definition, what number (1-5) did you used to label each of the structures
on your on-line virtual quiz?
________________________________ Connects upper and lower respiratory system (number ___)
________________________________ Distributes air into both lungs (number ___)
________________________________ Contraction creates negative pressure (number ___)
________________________________ Air enters the respiratory system (number ___)
________________________________ Aids gas exchange with its large surface area
(number ___)
Trace the path of gas molecules throughout the body. For this activity, use red arrows to
trace the path of Oxygen (O2) and blue arrows to trace the path of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Draw these arrows using red or blue ink. The first one is done for you as an example.
Mouth or Nose
Arteries
Tissues
Veins
74
Circulatory System Quiz
Determine the proper cycle of blood throughout the body by filling in the flowchart with the
terms: body, right atrium, lungs, left ventricle, right ventricle, left atrium, CO2 and O2 exchange
75
Digestive System Quiz
Identify the organs and their functions by filling in the following descriptions with the
appropriate terms: mesentery, pharynx, gall, nares, pyloric, spleen, rectum, rugae, large,
papillae, salivary, small, pancreas.
1. These ridges in the stomach allow the stomach to expand and hold more food for digestion.
___________________________
2. The ___________________________ gland secretes some of the first enzymes in the digestion process.
3. Located on the tongue of the pig, the sensory ___________________________ are responsible for the
sense of taste.
4. The ___________________________ sphincter controls the movement of food from the stomach to the
small intestine.
5. This structure appears purplish due to the close proximity of the veins and arteries running
through it.
6. It is the ___________________________bladder that stores and concentrates bile for release in the
stomach.
7. The ___________________________ intestine helps finish the digestive process by reabsorbing water and
creating fecal matter.
8. The ___________________________ intestine is the main structure responsible for the absorption of
essential nutrients into the body.
9. This structure stores fecal matter prior to excretion. ___________________________
10. This small structure takes in red blood cells and other cells and breaks them down to recycle
back to the body. ___________________________
11. The paired ___________________________ are holes in the snout of the pig that facilitate breathing
while warming in-coming air.
12. This organ manufactures digestive juices and enzymes to help portions of the digestive process.
___________________________
Identify the organs 1-6 from the digestive system quiz.
Organ #1 ____________________________
Organ #2 ____________________________
Organ #3 ____________________________
Organ #4 ____________________________
Organ #5 ____________________________
Organ #6 ____________________________
76
Excretory System Quiz
Fill in the blank using the following terms: renal artery, ureter, bladder, renal vein,
kidney. Following each definition, what numbers, (1-5), did you used to label each of the
structures on your on-line virtual quiz?

_________________________________________ Takes filtered blood from the kidney back to
the heart. (Number ___)

_________________________________________ Transports urine to the bladder for storage.
(Number ___)

_________________________________________ Transports unfiltered blood from the heart to
the kidney. (Number ___)

_________________________________________ Reabsorbs nutrients, secretes wastes by
filtering blood. (Number ___)

_________________________________________ Takes filtered blood from the kidney back to
the heart. (Number ___)

_________________________________________ Stores urine until it can be excreted out of the
body. (Number ___)
Fill in the blank using the following terms: cortex, ureter, renal pelvis, medulla.
Following each definition, what numbers, (1-4), did you used to label each of the
structures on your on-line virtual quiz?

_________________________________________ Collects filtrate from the kidney (Number ___)

_________________________________________ The outer region of the kidney (Number ___)

_________________________________________ Takes collected waste from the kidney to the
bladder(Number ___)

_________________________________________ Inner portion of the kidney. (Number ___)
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Reproductive System Quiz
Label the parts of the female reproductive system based on the image you see on your
virtual quiz.
1. _______________________________
2. _______________________________
3. _______________________________
Label the parts of the male reproductive system based on the image you see on your
virtual quiz.
1. _______________________________
2. _______________________________
3. _______________________________
4. _______________________________
5. _______________________________
Put the structures in order that the unfertilized egg passes through the reproductive
system.
1. _______________________________
2. _______________________________
3. _______________________________
4. _______________________________
5. _______________________________
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Reproductive System Quiz
Put the structures in order that the male sperm passes through.
1. __________________________________________
2. __________________________________________
3. __________________________________________
4. __________________________________________
5. __________________________________________
Match the following terms with the description of its function: cervix, oviducts, testes,
testosterone, urethra, vagina, scrotal sac, ovaries, uterus, epididymus, vas deferentia

_____________________________________ contain eggs and release hormones

_____________________________________ the principal sex hormone in the male is…

the fetus develops in the _____________________________________

_____________________________________ These tubes carry sperm from the testes to the urethra

Fertilization normally occurs in the _____________________________________

_____________________________________ contain eggs and release hormones

_____________________________________ produce sperm and release sex hormones
79
Label the anatomical direction, according to the lecture notes.
80
Topic: Introduction to Fetal Pig Dissection
Define the following
anatomical regions:
Cranial
Caudal
Dorsal
Ventral
Anterior
Posterior






Cranial – head region
Caudal – tail region
Dorsal – back region
Ventral – stomach region
Anterior – towards the front
Posterior – towards the back
What is the difference
between medial and
lateral?
_____________________: closer to the trunk.
What is the difference
between proximal and
distal?
_____________________: closer to a reference point.
_____________________: further from the trunk.
_____________________: further from a reference point.
For example, the elbow is ______________ to the shoulder, while the wrist
is more __________________ to the shoulder.
Consider their
classification and think
about the similarities
between human and
pig.
81
We study and dissect pigs due to their physiological and anatomical similarities to humans.
Brainstorm ways in which their basic appearance and internal anatomy may be similar or
different.
82
Topic: Introduction to Fetal Pig Dissection
What lab safety rules
must we follow in
order to protect
ourselves, our
classmates, and to
respect the life of the
fetal pig during the
dissection lab?
To determine the age
of your pig:
To determine the sex
of your pig:
What feature is
unique to females?
males?
Decide on ventralincision style based
upon the gender of
your fetal pig
83
Fetal Pig Dissection
External Anatomy
Gender
84
Fetal Pig Dissection
Objective: In this exercise you will examine the organization of the many body systems studied
this semester in the context of a single specimen, the fetal pig. Be sure to identify the major
organs as you explore the extent of each system.
Day 1: External Anatomy and Digestive System
External Anatomy
 Examine the fetal pig and locate the external features shown to the left.
 Two rows of nipples of mammary glands are present on the ventral abdominal surface
of both males and females. Mammary glands later develop only in maturing females.
 Determine the gender of your specimen.
Female: The urogenital opening in the female is immediately ventral tothe anus and has
a small genital papilla marking its location.
Male: The scrotal sac is ventral to the anus and a urogenital opening is just posterior to
the umbilical cord.
What is the gender of your pig? ____________________
 Gestation for the fetal pig is 112 – 115 days. The length of the fetal pig can give you a
rough estimate of its age.
11 mm – 21 days
17 mm – 35 days
2.8 cm – 49 days
4 cm – 56 days
22 cm - 100 days
30 cm or greater – full term
How old is your pig? ____________________
 Observe the toes of the pig. How many toes are on the feet? ________
Do they have an odd or even number of toes? __________
85
Oral Cavity
First Incisions
5.
2.
4.
3.
1
3.
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Oral Cavity
 To expose the structures of the mouth and pharynx, start by making a slit with a scalpel
from the corner of the mouth, moving upwards at a diagonal to the cheek. Open the
mouth as you make your cut and follow the curvature of the tongue to avoid cutting the
roof of the mouth.
 Now, repeat the procedure on the other side so that the lower jaw can be pulled down to
expose the structures of the mouth and pharynx as shown in the image to your left.
 Locate the hard and soft palate on the roof of the mouth. Feel your own hard and soft
palate with your tongue.
 Note the taste buds (sensory papillae) on the side of the tongue.
 Locate the esophagus at the back of the mouth. The esophagus eventually leads to what
large J-shaped digestive organ that mechanically breaks down food?
________________________
 Feel the edge of the mouth for teeth. Does the fetal pig have teeth? ______
Are humans born with teeth? _______
 Locate the epiglottis, a cone-shaped structure at the back of the mouth. This is a flap
that helps to close the larynx that leads down to the lungs when the pig swallows,
preventing food from entering the respiratory pathway. The epiglottis may be very
difficult to find in a smaller fetal pig.
Preparing for the first incisions
Use the scalpel only when absolutely necessary.
You will mainly be working with blunt probes and scissors.
Lift up as you cut, putting the blunt area of the scissors facing down and the sharp end
facing up.
Always cut away from you.
 Place the pig on its dorsal surface in the dissecting tray. Tie a piece of string or twine
around the wrist of one forelimb. Then, pass the string under the tray and tie it to the
other wrist. Tie and spread apart the pig’s hind legs as you did with the forelimbs.
 Use dissecting scissors to cut through the skin and muscles along lines 1 – 4 to open up
the abdominal cavity. (do not make incision 5 to open up the thoracic or chest cavity)
Transverse incision #4 is made just below the rib cage. The flap formed by incision 2 will
remain attached to the main part of the pig’s body. To free this flap of tissue, cut the vein
leading into the umbilical cord.
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Body Cavity
bladder
Umbilical vessels
88
Locate each of the following organs below. Check the box when you have located the structure.
Do not cut out any structure, unless instructed to do so.
 Diaphragm. This muscle divides the thoracic (chest) and abdominal cavity. It is located
near the ribcage. The diaphragm aids in breathing by helping to expand and compress the
lung tissue.
 Liver. This structure is lobed and is the largest organ in the body. The liver is responsible
for making bile for digestion. It is very important in short-term storage of sugars removed
from the blood. Sugars are stored in the liver as glycogen. The liver also has a role in
removing toxins from the blood.
 Gall bladder. Lift the liver to see this structure. This greenish organ is located underneath
the liver. It may look like a raisin. The bile duct attaches the gall bladder to the first section
of the small intestines where the absorption of nutrients begins. Particularly, bile helps to
digest lipids. The gall bladder stores bile and sends it to the small intestine, via the bile duct.
 Stomach. A “J” shaped organ that rest just beneath the liver to the pig’s left. The stomach’s
job is to turn and break down food into smaller pieces using muscular action and acids.
Food is also stored in the stomach, and released a little at a time into the small intestine
where nutrient absorption can begin.
 At the top of the stomach, you will find the esophagus, a tube that leads down into the
stomach from the oral cavity.
 Small intestine. The stomach leads down to the small intestine, which is composed of the
duodenum (straight portion just after the stomach) and the ileum (curly part). The ileum
is held together by mesentery. In the small intestine, nutrients broken down by the
stomach are absorbed through the arteries in the mesentery.
 Pancreas. A bumpy organ located along the underside of the stomach. A pancreatic duct
leads to the small intestine. The pancreas makes insulin, which is necessary for the proper
uptake of sugars from the blood. The excess sugar is then stored in the liver. When there is
too little sugar in the blood, the pancreas will release a hormone called glucagon. This has
the opposite affect. Glucagon releases the sugars stored in the liver and adds it to the blood
stream It is part of both the digestive and endocrine systems.
 Spleen. A flattened, long organ that lies slightly under the stomach and toward the extreme
left side of the pig. The spleen removes old red blood cells.
 Cecum. At the end of the ileum, where it widens to become the large intestines, a dead-end
branch called the cecum is visible. The cecum helps the pig digest plant material.
 Large intestine. This organ follows the small intestines and can be traced to the rectum.
The rectum lies toward the back of the pig and will not be moveable. The rectum opens to
the outside of the pig, or anus. The large intestine reabsorbs water from digested food. Any
undigested food is stored in the rectum as feces.
 Kidneys. Lying on either side of the spine are two bean shaped organs, the kidneys. The
kidneys are responsible for removing harmful substances from the blood. These substances
are excreted as urine.
 Urinary bladder. Two umbilical vessels can be seen in the umbilical cord, and the
flattened urinary bladder lies between them.
89
Exploring Glucose Homeostasis
What happens when there is too glucose in your blood? Fill in this diagram per your teacher’s
instructions. You will then act out the process to get a better understanding.
Liver
Fat
Muscle
90
Exploring Glucose Homeostasis
1. In order to prevent an over-abundance of glucose (small sugars) in the bloodstream,
what organs and organ systems were cooperatively involved in lowering the glucose
level in your simulation? List each organ system and explain the role of each organ
within these systems in lowering the blood sugar or glucose level.
2. In this simulation, beta cells in the pancreas released a hormone called insulin. This
enables organs to remove glucose from the bloodstream. Once the organ picks up
glucose from the blood, the atoms that make up glucose (C, H, O) can be used and
converted to glycogen in the liver, lipids in fat tissue, and proteins in muscles. Go back
to the Characteristics of Life Unit. What atoms, if any, must be added to C, H, and O in the
fat tissue to make lipids? What atoms, if any, must be added to C, H, and O in the muscle
tissue to build protein?
3. Imagine if there is a shortage of glucose in the blood. Alpha cells in the pancreas release
another hormone called glucagon to break down proteins, lipids, and glycogen back into
glucose. This glucose then is released back into the blood stream. Draw this feedback
loop in the diagram to the left.
91
4. Observe the graph above. According to this graph, at what level does your body need to
maintain blood glucose?
5. Is this an example of positive or negative feedback? Explain.
6. When the body is not in homeostasis, it often results in disease. What disease is
associated with a homeostatic imbalance in this particular system?
7. If a person is suffering from hyperglycemia, what hormone is not properly being made
or is lacking in body?
8. Using the graph above, at what value would a person be diagnosed as being
hyperglycemic?
9. If a person is suffering from hypoglycemia, what hormone is not properly being made or
is lacking in the body?
10. Using the graph above, at what value would a person be diagnosed as being
hypoglycemic?
92
Intentionally Left Blank
For additional brainstorming, diagrams, or notes
93
Thoracic Cavity
Fetal Pig Heart, Ventral View
94
Day 2: Circulatory and Respiratory Systems
It is important that you do not break the vessels since it is very difficult to determine the name
of the vessels unless you can see where it comes from and where it goes. The blood vessels have
been stained in your pigs. Red blood vessels carry oxygenated blood (typically arteries) and
blue blood vessels carry deoxygenated blood (typically veins). Arteries move blood away from
the heart. Veins move blood back towards the heart.
 Open the chest cavity, by making incision #5 with dissecting scissors, as marked on page
305 of your interactive notebook. To open the thoracic cavity, you will have to cut
through the sternum that connects the ribs.
 Heart. Remove the pericardium, which is a membrane that surrounds the heart to view
the heart. The heart pumps blood throughout the body, circulating oxygen, carbon
dioxide, nutrients, hormones, and other dissolved substances.
 The structures visible on the heart are the two atria (upper heart chambers) and the
ventricles (lower heart chambers). Blood poor blood enters the right atria, and the
right ventricle then pumps blood to the lungs, where the blood picks up oxygen. The
lungs are found on both sides of the heart. Once blood is oxygen rich, the blood returns
to the heart on the left side (left atria), and is pumped to the rest of the body by the left
ventricle. The two ventricles are divided by the coronary artery that runs down the
middle of the heart. The coronary artery supplies the heart muscle, itself, with oxygen.
 The prominent pulmonary artery can be seen leaving the pig’s right ventricle. This
artery goes to the lungs. A large aorta (vessel) arches and leaves the heart and delivers
blood throughout the body. The aorta will branch toward the head and curves around to
go to the lower part of the body.
 Lift the heart to look at its dorsal side (toward the back). You should be able to see the
anterior and posterior vena cavae, stained blue. The anterior vena cava returns
blood to the heart from the head, while the posterior vena cava returns the blood to
the heart from the lower half of the body. Follow the vena cava as far up as you can and
as far down as you can.
 Above the heart is the thymus gland. This gland extends into the neck on each side of
the trachea. The thymus is part of the lymphatic or immune system, where T-cells
mature.
 Find the diaphragm again. Remember that the diaphragm separates the abdominal
cavity from the thoracic cavity and it aids in breathing.
 The lungs are spongy and are found to the left and right side of the heart. The lungs are
connected to bronchial tubes which connect to the trachea. The trachea looks like a
bendy-straw because of the cartilaginous rings. The cartilage keeps it from collapsing as
the animal inhales and exhales. Don’t confuse it with the esophagus, which is part of the
digestive system.
95
96
Engineering Practices: Designing a Circulatory Pathway
The heart has a very important function in the human body. It is responsible for delivering
oxygen rich blood to every single cell and tissue in your body. It also must deliver nutrients
absorbed by the small intestine so that your body can use the nutrients to build more mass and
meet its energetic demands. It must remove toxic waste products as well as carbon dioxide
from cells. How is the heart able to do this?
Create a body outline on a white-board, similar to the one on the opposite page. Design a
circulatory pathway that allows the heart to perform its function.
1. Start by rolling up a small ball of play-dough to represent the heart. Place this playdough in the middle of the body outline on your white board.
2. Shape another set of play-dough into a pair of lungs.
3. Shape one other color play-dough into a long tube to represent the small intestines.
4. Shape play-dough into a kidney-bean shaped structure to represent kidneys.
5. Place all play-dough onto the white board at appropriate locations.
6. Use the different colored pipe-cleaners as vessels and design a circulatory pathway that
allows the heart to deliver blood, oxygen, and nutrients. It must also remove waste and
carbon dioxide. The blue pipe-cleaners can represent vessels with oxygen poor blood,
while the red pipe-cleaners can represent vessels with oxygen rich blood.
You will be given a limited amount of time to do this activity, so do the best you can within the
time constraints. We will then collaborate and create one final design that is made up of all the
good ideas we came up with collectively.
This collective design will be drawn on the opposite page and labeled, per your teacher’s
direction.
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Male Reproductive and Excretory Systems
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Day 3: Reproductive and Excretory Systems
You will dissect your own pig, but make sure to view both male and female pigs by examining
other groups’ dissections.
 Locate the kidneys. The blue veins leading out of the kidneys are the renal veins,
returning blood to the heart. The red arteries leading towards the kidneys are the renal
arteries, delivering blood from the heart.
 The tubes that lead from the kidneys that carry urine are the ureters.
 The ureters carry urine to the urinary bladder where urine is stored until it is ready to
be excreted. The urinary bladder is found in between the umbilical vessels.
 Follow the urinary bladder and you will find the urethra, the tube that carries urine out
of the body.
Male Reproductive System
 Find the scrotal sacs at the posterior end of the pig. The testis is located in each sac.
Open the scrotal sac to locate the testis, being careful not to damage the testis.
 On each testis, find the coiled epididymis. Sperm cells produced in the testis pass
through this tube, where they mature. After maturation, they enter a tube called the vas
deferens. (in humans, a vasectomy involves the cutting of this tube.)
 The vas deferens crosses over the ureter and enters the urethra, which leads to the
penis. The penis will be located in the flap that has the umbilical cord. Cut away the skin
to reveal the penis.
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Female Excretory and Reproductive System
Fallopian tube
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Female Reproductive System
 In the female pig, locate the two bean shaped ovaries found just posterior to the
kidneys.
 The ovaries are connected to the fallopian tubes, which carry eggs from the ovaries to
the uterine horns. (The uterus of the pig is different from that of the human, as it is
divided into two horns before joining together as one uterus. Remember pigs give birth
to litters.)
 The uterus can be traced posteriorly to the vagina, which simply appears as a
continuation of the uterus.
 The common area between the vagina and the urethra is called the urogenital sinus.
Finishing Up
 Time permitting, feel free to revisit any part of this exercise.
 Make sure that you can identify all terms that are in bold, as you will be responsible for
identifying these parts on your lab practical.
 Identify both male and female structures.
 Dispose of your specimen, according to your teacher’s instructions.
 Disinfect and sanitize your lab space, wash your hands, and clean up.
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Dissection Unit Concept Map
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Parent/ Significant Adult Review Page
Student Portion
Unit Summary (write a summary of the past unit using 5-7 sentences. Use your concept map to guide
your writing):
Explain your favorite part of the dissection:
Adult Portion
Dear Parent/ Significant Adult:
This Interactive Notebook represents your student’s learning to date and should contain the work
your student has completed. Please take some time to look at the unit your student just completed,
read his/ her reflection and respond to the following
Ask your child to explain to you the pig dissection process. What three facts did you learn from your
child?
Do you think your child benefited from this dissection? Please explain.
Parent/ Significant Adult Signature:
Comments? Questions? Concerns? Feel free to email your child’s teacher.
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