Pig Dissection Lab

Pig Dissection

Below is a video of our pig dissection. The purpose of this lab was to allow us to view the respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems in real life. We also were able to look at the heart, and understand how everything in the body is placed. We also learned many simple details such as the clear wrap around the heard which stops it from exploding. We were also able to see how tiny the spleen is, which opens up new understanding about how easy it is to damage it. It also allowed us to understand how connecting tissue holds everything in place. It was surprising to see how everything could be found by peeling back thin layers of tissue in the pig's body. The lungs looked a lot different than I thought it would, and I never expected the small intestine to appear deflated. There is a huge difference between how the large and small intestines look, and that also surprised me. It was surprising to see the kidneys and thyroid gland. Everything seemed to be placed so precisely. The veins and arteries were huge right next to the heart. It amazed me how simple yet complex the heart is. I am not sure if I loved this dissection because I felt really sorry for the pig. I also found that it was kind of gross at first. Dissecting the pig almost made me feel like Hawkeye working at the 4077th MASH!