Pig Dissection Lab

This lab was the most unique lab we have done throughout biology this year: we dissected a fetal pig in order to better understand its anatomy and physiology, as its systems are very similar to our own human systems in the body. We identified certain external structures, such as its wrists and shoulders, and pointed out their functions. In the digestive system, we were able to observe where the esophagus and the stomach were located, and we noticed the pancreas and liver as well. There were many differences in appearance between all of the organs, especially the large intestine and the small intestine. This helped us understand how food moves through the digestive system. We learned that the diaphragm separates the abdominal cavity from the thoracic cavity, and it puts pressure on the lungs which makes us breathe. We saw where the larynx, the trachea, and the lungs were located. We saw many veins and arteries in the circulatory system, and we saw the pig's four chambers of the heart. We also observed other organs, such as the spleen, the kidneys, and the thyroid gland. The dissection was very helpful in understanding really where everything was in the body and how the systems worked, and it was an enriching learning experience.



Here is our video tutorial of the pig dissection:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_tTXnivR1s

* The spleen has many different functions, but one of them is to filter blood in the immune system.