Ke’Andrea Page

BIOL 111-O1
Lab Report 6:​ ​Dissection of the Fetal Pig
November 3, 2020
Instructor:​ ​Folasade Adedoyin
Introduction:

Pigs, one of the most similar animals to humans, have been used to inform and teach students

about the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive system through a procedure called a dissection

for many years. Pigs are similar to humans through the fact that they have skin, not fur or

feathers, they are omnivores, and when they are a fetus they receive nutrients from an umbilical

cord connected to the mother, so it is natural to pick such an animal to compare to the human

organ systems. Although the size of the fetus pig is smaller than that of the human body the

organization of the major organs and the functions of such organs are still the same. This pig

dissection is designed to visually show students the different systems inside a pig and, indirectly,

their own bodies.

Materials​:

● preserved fetal pig

● Dissecting Tray
● Dissecting Pins
● Scissors
● Forceps
● Probe
● Scapula
● Gloves
● Lab Coat
Procedures​:

Thoracic Cavity

​I laid my fetal pig on its dorsal side, and examined the cutting lines shown in ​Figure 9.1​ to plan

out my dissection. I began #1 incision by inserting the point of scissors through the muscle layers

about ¼ inch caudal to the tip of the xiphoid process. Making the cut large enough for my finger

to poke through, then inserted my finger into the body cavity to feel the space beneath the muscle

layers. Extending the cut laterally in both directions roughly 4 inches, still working with your

scissors. I had cut in a curved pattern as shown in ​Figure 9.1,​ which follows the contour of the

diaphragm. I found the diaphragm again, and with a scalpel, carefully cut it from its attachments

to the ventral body wall. Allowing the diaphragm to remain on top of the liver.

From my first incision, I used my scissors to cut in a longitudinal direction roughly ¼ inch to one

side of the ventral midline. While cutting, I pulled upward with the scissors to create a space

between the body wall and the visceral organs. Extending my cut down one side of the ventral

midline caudally at first, extending the cut around both sides of the umbilicus, but stopped when

I felt the resistance of a membrane near the urinary bladder. Then I cut laterally to the left about

½ inch, then caudally another ½ inch, then continued the horizontal cut to the iliac crest.Then,

repeated this same cut to the right. Extending the midventral incision toward the neck region

from the #1 incision near the xiphoid process, and cut in a cranial direction. Cutting only muscle

tissue to expose the organs lying deep in the neck, including the trachea, thyroid gland, and

​ oticing the membrane

larynx.With the thoracic cavity exposed, I examined the heart​.. N

enclosing it. This was the parietal pericardium (pericardial sac). Cutting through the parietal

pericardium, I identified the following parts:

● Auricle
 ● Aorta

● Atria

● Pulmonary trunk

● Cranial vena cava

● Ventricles

● Caudal vena cava

● Ductus arteriosus

● Coronary vessels

With the heart intact, I sectioned the heart along the frontal plane to expose its internal chambers

. Identifying the four heart chambers, and located the foramen ovale, which allows blood to flow

from the right atrium directly into the left atrium to bypass the lungs. Identified the umbilical

vein as it extends from the umbilical cord through the liver, and joins the caudal vena cava.While

, noticing the two umbilical arteries, which extend between the internal iliac arteries in the pelvic

region to the umbilical cord. Then compare the circulatory systems of the fetal pig with that of a

pig after birth . Tracing the trachea in the ventral neck region to its division into the right and left

primary bronchi. To see them, I pushed the heart and thymus to one side. The smaller branches

of the bronchial tree cannot be observed further without the aid of a magnifying lens. Section

through one of the lungs and observe the tubes that have been cut. The tubes with cartilage rings

are secondary and tertiary bronchi. The very small ones, without cartilage, are bronchioles. The

tiny terminal branches and sacs that make the lung appear sponge-like are alveolar ducts,

alveolar sacs, and alveoli.

Examining the right and left lungs, which are multi-lobed organs in the pig . They are spongy

when squeezed, which demonstrates their composition of many air-filled alveoli . The left lung

of the pig includes three lobes (cranial, cardiac, and diaphragmatic), and the right lung contains

four lobes (apical, cardiac, intermediate, and diaphragmatic). Removing one lung by slipping my

fingers behind it and cutting through the root, which contains the pulmonary vessels. Noticing

the costal surface, the mediastinal surface, the convex base, and the apex of the lung. The outer

surface of the lung is covered by a thin serous membrane, called the visceral pleura. The parietal

pleura is attached to the inner wall of the thorax. The space between the pleurae is the pleural

cavity.

The Abdominopelvic Cavity

With the abdominopelvic cavity exposed, identify the shiny membrane lining the abdominal wall

as the parietal peritoneum . Then observed the visceral organs and find the prominent,

dark-brown liver immediately beneath the diaphragm. The liver of the fetal pig includes 5 lobes,

whereas the human liver contains 4 lobes. Noticing the falciform ligament between the large

right and left lobes. I elevated the large right medial lobe of the liver to observe the gallbladder.

Its green color is due to the bile pigments stored within. Then I found the esophagus as it

penetrates through the diaphragm and connects to the stomach. Identified the cardia, fundus,

body, and pylorus of the stomach, which parallels that of the human. Also finding the lesser

curvature and greater curvature. I Noticed the dark brown spleen, located dorsal and lateral to

the stomach, and recalled that it is part of the lymphatic system. The distal end of the stomach

unites with the duodenum of the small intestine. Tracing the duodenum as it makes a half-circle

turn. The turn encircles the pancreas slightly, which lies dorsal to the duodenum. The pancreas is

relatively larger in pigs than in humans. The jejunum begins with the increased loops. The ileum
is the final segment of the small intestine, uniting with the large intestine at the ileocecal

junction. Notice the mesentery, which anchors the small intestine to the dorsal abdominopelvic

wall. The large intestine of the pig includes a cecum, a much longer spiral colon, and a

descending colon. The pouch-like cecum extends a short distance downward, while the spiral

colon extends laterally to the right side of the abdomen. Unlike the human large intestine, the

descending colon extends caudally against the dorsal wall until it terminates at the anus.Move

the digestive organs to one side. With the abdominopelvic cavity still exposed, I traced the

following blood vessels in my specimen

● Celiac trunk

● Caudal vena cava

● Renal artery

● Hepatic portal vein

● Abdominal aorta

● Renal vein

Identifying the paired kidneys, located behind the peritoneum, against the dorsal

abdominopelvic wall at the level of the waist . Note the position of the adrenal glands, which lie

slightly cranial and medial to each kidney. Then identified the renal fascia that anchors the

kidney to the abdominopelvic wall, and the outer layer of the kidney, called the renal capsule.

I Carefully removed the fat from one of the kidneys, and sectioned it along the frontal plane

with my scalpel. Then identified the concave margin of the sectioned kidney, called the renal

hilus (or hilum), and the three divisions of the interior kidney: renal cortex, renal medulla, and

renal pelvis. Notice the triangular masses in the medulla, called the renal pyramids.
From the renal hilus of the sectioned kidney, trace the thin ureter from its origin to its union with

the urinary bladder at the base of the pelvic cavity. Carefully removed any connective tissue and

fat that may obscure the ureter to reveal its length along the dorsal abdominopelvic cavity

completely. I determined the sex of my specimen by examining the pelvic cavity and comparing

my specimen to the female shown in Figure 9.6 and the male shown in Figure 9.7. To clean up, I

closed the body cavities, returned the specimen to its plastic bag, and returned it to the storage

cabinet. Disposed of any tissues as directed by my instructor. Washed the tray, the countertop,

dissecting equipment, and my hands thoroughly.

Results:
Discussion​:
The mouth serves a valuable role not only for the consumption of food but it also provides for
the initial partial size reduction though grinding. While teeth serve the main role in grinding to
reduce food size and increase surface area, the first action to begin the chemical breakdown of
food occurs when feed is mixed with saliva.

There are three main salivary glands, which include the parotid, mandibular and sub-lingual
glands. Saliva secretion is a reflex act stimulated by the presence of food in the mouth. The
stomach stores about 1 – 2 L of food for about 4 hours. This J-shaped organ secretes gastric
juices that prepare the food for digestion. Gastric juice is called pepsin (pepsin is created from
pepsinogen in the presence of HCl) and it, along with HCl, is responsible for breaking down
proteins.The small intestine is the major site of nutrient absorption, and is divided into three
sections. The first section is the duodenum. The duodenum is approximately 12 inches long and
is the portion of the small intestine that ducts from the pancreas and the liver (gall bladder). The
pancreas is involved with both exocrine and endocrine excretions. This means the pancreas is
responsible for secretion of insulin and glucagon in response to high or low glucose levels in the
body. In addition, it has exocrine functions of secreting digestive enzymes and sodium
bicarbonate.In addition to the pancreas secreting into the duodenum, bile, which is stored in the
gall bladder and produced by the liver, is secreted as well. Bile salts, which are the active portion
of bile in the digestion process, primarily assist in the digestion and absorption of fat but also
help with absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and aids pancreatic lipase in the small intestine.The
spleen creates lymphocytes for the destruction and recycling of old red-blood cells. Also it is a
blood reservoir that supplies the body with blood in emergencies like a large cut; it is the place
where white blood cells trap and capture foreign organisms. ​Pigs have spongy lungs because
there are millions of alveoli in the lungs. These alveoli are made so that the maximum surface
area can take in oxygen for deoxygenated blood. ​ Heart – Helps with circulation of blood
throughout the body. Diaphragm – Helps with separating the thorax cavity. Testis – Helps in
producing sperm in males. Urinary bladder – Stores urine. Hard palate – Important for feeding
and speech. Soft palate – Responsible for closing off the nasal passages during the act of
swallowing. Glottis – Helps with sound production and speech. Epiglottis – Helps with breathing
and swallowing. Ovary – Helps with the production of eggs in females

Conclusion​:
Pigs are complex organisms with an internal structure similar to that of the human body. The pig
dissection was a learning experience that allowed me to distinguish the many organs and organ
systems in the pig’s body and, ultimately, the organs and organ systems of the human body. This
experiment allowed me as a biology student to learn, in a hands-on way, about the many systems
of the body. It showed the organization of the pig’s internal organs and the significance of each
organs position. For instance the heart and the lungs are very close together because the heart
needs oxygen for the blood very quickly. If the heart doesn’t get this oxygenated blood quickly
then it cannot deliver fast enough to the various parts of the body. The body tissue cells will run
out of oxygen for ATP and thus the entire body will slow down.

References​ :

https://www.humbleisd.net/cms/lib2/TX01001414/Centricity/Domain/5740/Fetal%20Pig%20Pac

ket%202014-2015.pdf.

https://app.tophat.com/e/663841/assigned.