Anatomy and physiology labs

Introduction to ScienceExperiment 8Fetal Pig Dissection - The Nervous System Experiment Inventory

Materials Fetal Pig

Dissection Tray

Dissection Tools Kit

String (attached to pig’s hooves)

© eScience Labs, 2016

EXPERIMENT 8: FETAL PIG DISSECTION - NERVOUS SYSTEM

The similarities between the human nervous system anatomy and the fetal pig nervous system anatomy are vast. Thus, observations of the fetal pig nervous system are useful in understanding the form and function of the human nervous system.

PROCEDURE

1. To begin, lay down your underpad and place your dissecting tray on top of it. Be sure you have all of your safety equipment on

before beginning.

2. Once prepared, gently open the bag your pig is in.

Note: DO NOT destroy this bag or empty out the preserving solution within the bag. You will need it for the

whole semester.

3. Lay your pig onto the dissecting tray, dorsal side facing up. Slide the strings underneath the dissection tray to secure the pig.

4. Palpate the spinal column with your fingers.

5. Using the dissection scissors, cut along either side of the spinal column, removing approximately 3 cm2 of skin and muscle in

the thoracic region, directly over the vertebrae (Figure 15).

Figure 15: The exposed spinal column of the fetal pig.

6. Clear away any muscle from the spinal column using a teasing needle, forceps,

and scissors.

7. Expose the vertebral column, and slice through the vertebral canal by cutting the

vertebral arch with the dissecting scissors. Repeat on the opposite side to free a

section of the spinal cord.

8. Inspect the segment of the spinal cord, and record any distinct features you are

able to discern.

9. To finish, locate the bag the pig came in. Gently place the pig back into the bag,

and tightly secure the bag with a rubber band, or place the pig in the zip-seal bag

provided in the dissection box.

10. Place the pig back into the cool environment you had previously stored it in. Remember, the best place to keep the pig is in

a cool, dark place.

11. After your pig has been put away, clean off your dissecting tray and dissecting tools with soap and water. Biological scraps

should not be thrown into the garbage. Securely store the biological scraps until the end of the term so that they can be

properly disposed of at one time.

12. Clean the area in which you worked with soap and water. As long as the underpad has not been damaged, keep it for future

experiments.

© eScience Labs, 2016