======Fetal Pig Dissection======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
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**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
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**Alternative titles:** Mammalian Systems in a Fetal Pig
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  *Follow instructions provided in the links below.



====Links==== 
Fetal Pig Dissection and Internal Organs - eLearning Team - Seattle Central College: 
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Biology 1104 Lab 1 || Fetal Pig Dissection - aceconnect: 
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📄 Fetal Pig Dissection Labs - Dr. J. Lim: [[https://www.shsu.edu/academics/agricultural-sciences-and-engineering-technology/documents/FetalPigDissectionLab_000.pdf]]\\

====Variations====
  * Focus on fetal circulation: map umbilical vein/arteries, ductus venosus, and ductus arteriosus with colored pins.
  * Comparative anatomy add-on: contrast pig lung lobes, cecum size, and uterine horns with human anatomy models.
  * Histology extension: take thin slices of thyroid, thymus, lung, or kidney for microscope observation after gross ID.




====Safety Precautions====
  * Wear gloves and lab coatsat all times.
  * Use scissors for most cuts; reserve the scalpel for small, controlled incisions only.
  * Cut shallowly in the neck to avoid damaging vessels and glands; preserve umbilical vessels when opening the abdomen.
  * Secure the specimen with ties to prevent tool slips; always cut away from your hands and partners.
  * Treat all tissues and fluids as biohazard; dispose of waste in designated containers and never pour preservatives down sinks.
  * Be mindful of potential latex or preservative sensitivities; ensure good ventilation and avoid skin contact with fluids.
  * Disinfect instruments, trays, and work surfaces; wash hands thoroughly after the lab.





====Questions to Consider====
  * What fetal shunts alter blood flow before birth, and where do they route blood? (Ductus arteriosus: pulmonary trunk to aorta; ductus venosus: umbilical vein to posterior vena cava.)
  * Why are the lungs present but nonfunctional in the fetus, and how does this affect cardiac anatomy at birth? (Placenta handles gas exchange; at birth, shunt closure redirects flow to the lungs.)
  * How does the diaphragm contribute to ventilation in mammals? (Its contraction increases thoracic volume, drawing air into the lungs.)
  * What does intestine length and the presence of a cecum suggest about diet? (Longer small intestine and cecum support varied omnivorous digestion and microbial fermentation.)
  * How do uterine horns in pigs reflect reproductive strategy versus humans? (Pigs have large uterine horns for litters; humans have a single uterine body for single/few offspring.)