Fetal Pig Dissection Lab with Detailed Images Beth Cantwell and Laurel Rodgers Shenandoah University, 1460 University Drive, Winchester, VA 22601
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[email protected] Abstract This lab provides students with detailed dissection instructions of the fetal pig, including the digestive, respiratory, cardiac, urinary, and reproductive systems. Color pictures are provided for each step to help students ensure that they are removing the correct tissues and making the correct incisions. Information is provided throughout the lab about the function of each organ students observe. This lab was written for a non-majors, general education course. However, we have provided additional materials in the appendix in order for instructors to expand the lab for a Biology majors course. Keywords: Anatomy, organ systems, fetal pig dissection Introduction The fetal pig is frequently used during anatomy units in both majors and non-majors courses because the pig has a similar anatomy to humans, is reasonably priced, and is readably available from multiple sources. In our non-majors Biology course, Biology in Society, we use the fetal pig to introduce our students to basic anatomy and the function of some major biological systems in the human. We wrote this lab because we have struggled to find a fetal pig dissection that contained both sufficient instructions and information for our course. Detailed instructions allow students to make the appropriate incisions and observe organs with minimal assistance from the instructor. From a classroom management perspective, this is important because it allows the lab instructor to circulate quickly within a group of up to twenty students.