Fetal Pig Anatomy

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Biology

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harper college

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BIO 116

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Harper College

Bio116: Fundamentals of Organismal Biology

Lab 11—Fetal pig (Vertebrate) anatomy

Name: _____________________________________________________ Date: ______________

Objectives:

• Identify external body regions and body structures on the fetal pig

• Distinguish between male and female pigs using external and internal anatomical features

• Identify structures within the oral cavity and neck on the fetal pig

• Identify organs within the thoracic cavity on the fetal pig

• Identify organs within the abdominal cavity on the fetal pig

• Identify structures and components of a four-chambered mammalian heart

Introduction:

In your study of various animal phyla, you have examined structural features that differ between

different animal phyla. Prior to this lab all organisms you have investigated were invertebrates,

animals without vertebrae (backbones). In this lab you will investigate vertebrate anatomy using a

fetal pig as a model organism. Vertebrates have vertebrae (backbones) and all belong to the

Phylum Chordata. Pigs specifically belong to Class Mammalia within the chordate phylum, like us

humans. As such, in this lab you will notice several structural similarities between fetal pigs and

humans, many of which suggest homology.

Remember, there are four features that define members of Phylum Chordata: 1) a notochord, 2) a

dorsal hollow nerve cord, 3)pharyngeal slits and 4) a post anal tail. Within the pig some of these

features have become modified or reduced in size as the pig develops through the embryonic stage

to the fetal stage, eight weeks after fertilization, and so may no longer be visible in an older fetal pig.

Like other members of the Class Mammalia, pigs have hair and mammary glands that produce milk.

Exercise 1: External Anatomy

To help you navigate through this lab exercise, please consult with the virtual pig dissection website

hosted by Whitman College at: https://www.whitman.edu/academics/departments-and-

programs/biology/virtual-pig

Procedure:

• Using the website above, click on the section marked “Anatomical References” and then

navigate through the sections marked below to examine external regions on the pig:

o Regions of the pig

o Anterior and posterior

o Dorsal and ventral

o Medial and lateral

• Watch this video that goes through the external anatomy of a pig: https://youtu.be/nZsaHMaBL74

1. How does the anterior region of a pig differ from the anterior region on a human?

In the pig, the anterior region is the head while the ventral region is the belly side. In human

anatomy, the anterior region is also the ventral region which is the belly/stomach side; the

head of the human is more of in the superior side.

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Fetal Pig Anatomy