Fetal Pig Dissection

Students explore a fetal pig to identify major external features and dissect internal systems (respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, and reproductive). Colored latex in vessels and stepwise incisions help reveal organ relationships and fetal circulatory adaptations.

• Follow instructions provided in the links below.

Fetal Pig Dissection and Internal Organs - eLearning Team - Seattle Central College:

Biology 1104 Lab 1 || Fetal Pig Dissection - aceconnect:

📄 Fetal Pig Dissection Labs - Dr. J. Lim: https://www.shsu.edu/academics/agricultural-sciences-and-engineering-technology/documents/FetalPigDissectionLab_000.pdf

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.)