FETAL PIG DISSECTION LAB

Pre-Lab
Like humans, the pig is a placental mammal, meaning that the fetus receives nourishment from the mother
through the umbilical cord. Because the anatomy of the fetal pig resembles that of other placentals, this laboratory
serves two important functions. It provides a representative overview of vertebrate anatomy and provides the
framework for understanding the functioning of body systems.

Purpose: To study the external anatomy and organ systems of the abdominal cavity of the fetal pig.

Materials: preserved pig dissecting kit

Procedure:
1. Identify the four regions of the pig's HEAD, NECK, TRUNK, and the TAIL.

Lateral view of fetal pig

2. Place the pig on its back (dorsal surface) and observe the umbilical cord. Locate the paired rows of NIPPLES along
the ventral surface of the pig. Both males and females have these nipples.
3. Use the diagrams to determine the sex of your pig. In females, the UROGENITAL OPENING is located
immediately below the ANUS. A small, spiked tissue called the GENITAL PAPILLA projects from the urogenital
opening. See the diagram of the female pig. In males, the SCROTUM containing the testes can be located just
below the anus. The urogenital opening of the male is found immediately posterior to the UMBILICAL CORD.
See the diagram of the of the male pig.

Ventral view of the female pig. Ventral view of the male pig.
5. Examine the feet of the fetal pig.

Part B: The Abdominal Cavity

During the dissection you will be directed to examine specific organs as they become visible. Remove only those organs
indicated by the dissection procedure. Proceed cautiously, to prevent damaging underlying structures.

1. With the pig still on its dorsal surface, attach one piece of string to the pig's ankle and another to its
opposite wrist. Pull each piece under the dissecting pan and tie together. Repeat the procedure for the
other wrist and pull once again so that the ventral surface is exposed.
 Ventral view of the fetal pig.

Abdominal cavity and thoracic cavity of the fetal pig.

Organs of the digestive system and circulatory system
are highlighted in the diagram.

2. Using scissors, make an incision just in front of the umbilical cord and cut toward the anterior of the pig. Follow
the incision shown by the diagram, which is indicated as #1.
3. Follow the incision markers, indicated in the diagram as #2, toward the posterior of the pig. Make an incision
near the neck, indicated by #3, and then at the posterior portion of the abdominal cavity, indicated by #4. Make
a lateral incision near the posterior portion of the ribs, indicated by #5. This incision runs parallel to the
DIAPHRAGM, which separates the THORACIC CAVITY at the anterior of the animal from the ABDOMINAL CAVITY,
near the posterior of the animal.
4. Pull apart the flaps along incision #5, exposing the abdominal cavity. Use dissecting needles to tear the
connective tissue (peritoneum) that holds the internal organs to the lining of the body cavity. Now pull apart the
flaps of skin covering incision #4 to expose the posterior portion of the abdominal cavity. Use pins to hold back
the flaps of skin.
5. Located LIVER near the anterior of the abdominal cavity. Using a probe, lift the lobes and
and locate the saclike GALL BLADDER. Follow the thin duct from the gall bladder to the coiled small intestine.
Bile salts, produced in the liver, are stored in the gall bladder. The bile duct conducts the fat-emulsifying bile salt
to the small intestine.
6. Locate the J-shaped STOMACH beneath the liver. Using forceps and a probe, lift the stomach and locate the
ESOPHAGUS near the anterior junction. Locate the SMALL INTESTINE at the posterior junction of the stomach.
The coiled small intestine is held in place by MESENTERY, a thin, somewhat transparent connective tissue. Note
the HEPATIC PORTAL VEIN that transports digested nutrients from the intestine to the liver.
7. Using a dissecting needle and forceps, lift the junction between the stomach and small intestine, removing
supporting tissue. Uncoil the junction and locate the creamy-white gland called the PANCREAS. The pancreas
produces a number of digestive enzymes and a hormone called insulin, which helps regulate blood sugar.
8. Locate the SPLEEN, the elongated organ found around outer curvature of the stomach. The spleen stores red and
white blood cells. The spleen also removes damaged red blood cells from the circulatory system.
9. Using a scalpel, remove the stomach from the pig by making transverse cuts near the junction of the stomach
and esophagus, and near the junction of the small intestine. Make a cut along the mid-line of the stomach and
open the cavity. View the stomach under a dissecting microscope
 Thoracic cavity and urogenital system

Part C: Thoracic Cavity

1. Carefully fold back the flaps of skin that cover the thoracic cavity. You may use dissecting pins to attach the ribs
to the dissecting tray.
2. Locate the HEART. Using forceps and a dissection probe, remove the PERICARDIUM from the outer surface of
the heart. The large blood vessel that carries blood from the liver to the right side of the heart is called the
INFERIOR VENA CAVA. (The right side refers to the pig’s right side)

a. Ventral view of heart and lungs b. dorsal view of heart and lungs.

3. Blood from the head enters the right side of the heart through the SUPERIOR VENA CAVA. Both the superior and
inferior vena cava are considered to be veins because they bring blood to the heart.
4. Trace blood flow through the heart. Blood entering the right side of the heart collects in the RIGHT ATRIUM.
Blood from the right atrium is pumped into the RIGHT VENTRICLE. Upon contraction of the right ventricle, blood
flows to the lungs by way of the PULMONARY ARTERY. Arties carry blood away from the heart. Blood, rich in
oxygen, returns from the lungs by way of the PULMONARY VEINS and enter the LEFT ATRIUM. Blood is pumped
from the left atrium to the LEFT VENTRICLE and out the AORTA.

5. Make a lateral incision across the heart and expose the heart chamber. Compare the size of the wall of a
ventricle with that of an atrium.
6. Locate the spongy LUNGS on either side of the heart and the TRACHEA leading into the lungs.
7. Place your index finger on the trachea and push downward. Describe what happens.
Part D: Urogenital System
1. Using scissors, remove the intestines and what remains of the stomach.
2. Refer to the diagram of the thoracic cavity and urogenital system and locate the KIDNEY. Using forceps and a
scalpel, carefully remove the fat deposits that surround the kidney.
3. Locate the thin tube leading from the kidneys. The URETER carries urine from the kidney to the BLADDER. Cut
into the kidney and note the large number of tubules.

If your pig is a male, refer to steps 4 and 5. If your pig is female, refer to steps 6 and 7. Make sure that you also view the
organs of a pig of the opposite sex from your specimen.

4. Use the diagram of the male urogenital system to locate the TESTES, which produce the sperm cells. If your fetal
pig is advanced in development, the testes may have descended into the scrotum; however, they will probably
be found in the inguinal canal. Like the ovaries, the testes develop inside the body cavity. The lower
temperatures of the scrotum promote the proper development of sperm cells.
5. Use the diagram to locate the VAS DEFERENS, which conducts sperm cells from the testes to the URETHRA.
6. Use the diagram of the female reproductive system to locate the OVARIES, which produce the egg cells. The
ovaries can be found immediately posterior to the kidneys.
7. Locate the FALLOPIAN TUBES leading from the ovaries. The fallopian tubes are supported by the broad
ligaments. Follow the fallopian tubes, which meet to form the UTERUS, or womb. The fallopian tube is the site
of fertilization. Once fertilized, the egg travels to the uterus, the site of embryo and fetal development. Locate
the VAGINA and follow the canal into the uterus. The construction that marks the division between the vagina
and uterus is known as the CERVIX.

Ventral view of the female reproductive system. Urogenital system of a male pig.