Anatomy & Physiology
January 12, 2009
Fetal Pig Dissection
The anatomy of a fetal pig or Sus scrofa is very similar to the human anatomy. This is due to that fact that both humans and pigs are mammals. As mammals pigs and humans share many common characteristics. Body hair, mammary glands, and specialized teeth are external features share by most mammal species. Internal futures are also shared by the pigs and the humans such as a diaphragm, a four-chambered heart, a similar digestive system, respiratory, circulatory, excretory, and reproductive system. Mammals respire with the lungs and excrete with kidneys.
Throughout the years, humans have used pig’s anatomy and physiology to test medicine, to pursue perfection in surgical procedures, and even used pig’s heart valves for replacement in human hearts. Humans are able to accomplish these studies by conducting dissecting labs to identify the organs throughout different body systems.
The Lab is commenced by examining the external features of the fetal pig. The pig’s skin is covered by a thing layer just like the human fetus skin. This is because both pigs and humans are developed inside the placenta which is a specialized embryonic organ that is attached to the mother’s uterus and delivers oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. By further examining the external features of the pig we can observe that just like humans, they have the cranial region were we find external ears, nostrils, upper and lower eyelids, and unlike humans, a third eyelid called nictitating membrane. This eyelid is vestigial – meaning it has not function but remains there because its ancestors used it. It is a remnant of earlier evolution when this eyelid used to be used to help moisten and protect the eye ball.
The pigs also have upper and lower limbs with distal digits. On the forelimb we find the shoulder, elbow, wrist and digits. On the hind limb we find the hip, knee, ankle, heel, and digits.
By further examining the external body we are...