Fetal Pig Dissection Guide
Sample Pages
What follows are pages 52 and 53 of the Fetal Pig Dissection
Guide. Note that each major structure is clearly described in the text,
and that all descriptions are on the same page (52) as the illustration,
or on the facing page (53).
Page 52
Illustration of Chest Structures (smaller than actual size)
*Left lung removed for illustrative purposes.*
*Parts of the right lung are still visible.*
Fig. 22 - Heart and Lung Structures
Mediastinum -- This is the space between the lungs. Organs in
it include the heart, esophagus, aorta, and part of the thymus gland.
1. Anterior Vena Cava -- In humans this is called the superior vena
cava. This is a short vessel anterior to the right side of the heart. It
carries blood to the right atrium.
2. Posterior Vena Cava -- In humans this is called the inferior vena
cava. This vessel returns blood from the posterior portion of the body.
It can be viewed passing through the diaphragm mid-dorsally.
3. Pericardium -- This is a membrane similar to the pleura. It also
has a visceral part and a parietal part. This visceral pericardium is the
thin, shiny membrane on the surface of the heart. The parietal pericardium
is much thicker. (Peri = around. Cardio = heart.) There is a small amount
of lubricating fluid found between the two layers, in a space known as the
#pericardial cavity.
Page 53
Medical Note -
Inflammation of the pericardium is known as *pericarditis. Although it is
painful and may be caused by a serious problem, pericarditis is not itself
a life-threatening problem unless it is accompanied by fluid accumulation
in the pericardial space. Such a fluid accumulation is known as *cardiac
tamponade. It interferes with ventricular filling, reducing cardiac output,
and can rapidly become life threatening.
4. Phrenic nerve -- This nerve passes along the lateral edges
of the pericardium. It supplies the muscle of the diaphragm.
5. Esophagus
6. Aorta -- The large vessel you see first when looking at the front
of the heart is the pulmonary trunk. The aorta is found behind the pulmonary
trunk. The first part of the aorta, where it leaves the left ventricle is
known as the ascending aorta. The curved part is known as the aortic arch.
The rest of the aorta is known as the descending aorta. They look white
because of their thick walls. If you have injected animals, they will have
colored latex on the inside, but it is not visible externally.
7. Pulmonary Trunk -- This artery leaves the heart on the ventral
surface from the right ventricle and angles to the left.
8. Pulmonary arteries -- The main pulmonary trunk divides into these
vessels. In the adult, the pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood to
the lungs.
9. Ductus arteriosus -- This short vessel in the fetal pig passes
from the pulmonary artery to the aortic arch. Before birth it is used as
a shunt to bypass the lungs, which are collapsed. In adults it becomes a
small ligament. (See Fig. 43 - Fetal Circulation for a complete description
of the fetal circulatory pattern.)
Pulmonary veins -- These 4 vessels can be traced returning from the
lungs to the left atrium and should be injected with red dye (why should
there be red dye in a vein?).
Trace the respiratory tract from larynx through the following structures:
10. Trachea -- The structure below the larynx. Note its cartilagenous
rings.
11. Bronchi -- The branches of the trachea are known as bronchi.
They also have cartilagenous rings. See Appendix 2, p. 100, for a more
detailed description of bronchial structures.
Medical Note
- An infection of the bronchi is known as #bronchitis. Usually many smaller
subdivisions of the bronchi (the *bronchioles) are also involved in this
inflammatory process.
12. #Vagus nerve (*Cranial Nerve X) -- the vagus nerve is
somewhat dorsal to the phrenic nerve. On the left side of your pig (the
pigís left side), cut the diaphragm near where it attaches to the
chest wall, laterally and dorsally. Gently lift up the lungs as far as you
can. You will see several prominent structures.
Please send questions and comments to James S. Miller
Last updated January 1998
Biology
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