Fetal Pig Dissection
Background Information to get you
started.
Background Information
• These specimens are NOT raised for
dissection purposes. They are salvaged
from pregnant sows at slaughter for food.
• They have been embalmed via the
umbilical cord.
• Arteries and veins also injected with latex
(red arteries, blue veins).
Why dissection?
• Dissections are a powerful teaching tool.
To see it is to understand it – unlike 2D
diagrams.
• You will gain an appreciation for organ
placement and system set up.
• There are many similarities between pigs
and humans.
• Best: muscles, digestive, respiratory,
circulatory, reproductive systems…..
Other Thoughts:
• Dissection DOES NOT mean to CUT UP.
• It means “to expose, to view.”
• We will rarely be “cutting” but we will probe
and tease tissues to expose them so we
don’t lose the view.
• Note position of organs relative to other for
understanding of whole systems. This is
not random!
Safety:
• Each day gather your dissecting kit and trays
and lots of towels.
• Aprons recommended.
• Safety glasses NOT an option. ON YOUR
FACE! The embalming liquid can embalm your
eyeballs jst as well as the pigs!
• Trash => towels and gloves
• Skin, tissues, and organs <= body bag for
disposal.
Objectives:
• Perform a whole body dissection of a
vertebrate like ourselves (no 9th graders
volunteered). Many similarities exist!
• Identify the major anatomical features of
your pig.
• Understand the relationship of form and
function of each organ, each system, and
how all systems interconnect –
homeostasis!
Objectives part 2:
• Determine sex of pig using external
anatomical landmarks.
• Determine age of fetus via length (fetal pig
gestation time = time in the uterus).
Gestational time for pigs ranges between
112-114 days.
• Gain dissection skills you will use in
college dissecting of cats (or people)!
Let’s DO this thing!
• Decide on a dissecting group of 3 – 4 people.
• Please pick up a pre-lab worksheet and a lab
guide – read over the beginning of the lab guide,
review your intro notes and complete the pre-lab
Qs.
• ALSO: You will need to take pictures of this
dissection process for projects and reports about
this dissection. Bring cameras (and cell phones
okay ONLY for pics).