Fetal Pig Dissection Guide

Table of Contents

I. LIST OF FIGURES ---------------------------------------------------- 7
II. NOTE TO INSTRUCTORS -------------------------------------------8
III. INTRODUCTION ----------------------------------------------------9
- A. Background Information -----------------------------------------9
- B. Preliminary Instructions -----------------------------------------10
  - 1. Tools for dissection --------------------------------------10
  - 2. General guidelines ----------------------------------------11
  - 3. Finishing a Session ---------------------------------------12
- C. Anatomical Terminology ----------------------------------------13
IV. STARTING THE DISSECTION ------------------------------------15
- A. External observations -------------------------------------------15
- B. Bones ----------------------------------------------------------16
- C. Skinning the Pig ------------------------------------------------17
- D. Superficial Muscles and Connective Tissue ---------------------18
V. MUSCULAR SYSTEM ----------------------------------------------19
- A. Introduction ----------------------------------------------------19
- B. Muscle Terminology --------------------------------------------19
- C. Ventral Muscles ------------------------------------------------19
- D. Neck Muscles --------------------------------------------------23
- E. Lateral Forelimb Muscles ---------------------------------------24
- F. Shoulder Muscles -----------------------------------------------26
- G. Medial Forelimb Muscles ---------------------------------------30
- H. Back Muscles --------------------------------------------------33
- I. Lateral Hind Leg Muscles ----------------------------------------34
- J. Medial Hind Leg Muscles ----------------------------------------36
- K. Lower Hind Leg Muscles ---------------------------------------37
VI. SALIVARY GLANDS & ASSOCIATED STRUCTURES ----------38
VII. ORAL CAVITY -----------------------------------------------------40
VIII. ABDOMINAL CAVITY -------------------------------------------43
XI. THORACIC CAVITY -----------------------------------------------50
X. FEMALE GENITOURINARY SYSTEM ----------------------------56
XI. MALE GENITOURINARY SYSTEM ------------------------------58
XII. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM -----------------------------------63
- A. Veins -----------------------------------------------------------63
  - 1. Anterior Veins --------------------------------------------63
  - 2. Abdominal Veins -----------------------------------------67
  - 3. Posterior Veins -------------------------------------------68
- B. Arteries ---------------------------------------------------------71
  - 1. Anterior Arteries ------------------------------------------71
  - 2. Abdominal Arteries ---------------------------------------77
  - 3. Posterior Arteries -----------------------------------------78
- C. Circulatory Patterns ---------------------------------------------81
  - 1. Fetal Pattern ----------------------------------------------81
  - 2. Adult Pattern ----------------------------------------------83
- D. Sheep Heart -----------------------------------------------------84
XIII. SHEEP EYE ---------------------------------------------------------90
XIV. SHEEP BRAIN -----------------------------------------------------92
XV. APPENDIX 1: KIDNEY STRUCTURE -----------------------------98
XVI. APPENDIX 2: ADDITIONAL THORACIC DISSECTIONS -----100
XVII. APPENDIX 3: ADDITIONAL NERVE DISSECTIONS ---------106
XVIII. APPENDIX 4: SHEEP HEART DISSECTION ------------------108

XIX. INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------109

You may return to the Fetal Pig Dissection Guide home page, or see the list of credits, the list of illustrations, a two page sample of the contents, examples of medical notes, a page of pig and dissection humor, a description of why fetal pigs are good dissection specimens, or a page of hints, tips and interesting facts about the fetal pig.

Please send questions and comments to James S. Miller

Last updated January 1998

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