Where is the heart located in a fetal pig?

The heart is located in the thoracic cavity nestled between the lungs on the body’s midline. Pigs like other mammals have a four-chambered heart. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs (pulmonary circulation), and the left side pumps blood out to the rest of the body (systemic circulation).

What are the four parts to the heart in a pig?

A pig’s heart has four chambers which include left atrium, left ventricle, right atrium and right ventricle (Lane, 2010a).

Why are fetal pigs used for dissection?

A fetal pig dissection is helpful for anatomy studies because the size of the organs makes them easy to find and identify. It is also interesting to do because a lot of the internal anatomy is similar to humans!

Why do we dissect pig hearts?

Using a pig heart, students will observe the major chambers, valves, and vessels of the heart and be able to describe the circulation of blood through the heart to the lungs and back and out to the rest of the body. (The pig heart is used because it is very similar to the human heart in structure, size, & function.)

What are the basic materials needed to carry out a pig heart dissection?

Introduction: Heart Dissection

• One heart (pig, cow, or sheep from the butcher as in tact as possible)
• 4 x Dowels (or pencils)
• Blade (X-acto or otherwise)
• Tweezers.
• Tray.
• Pair of Gloves.

What is the purpose of the fetal pig lab dissection?

Pigs are excellent and engaging specimens for studying mammalian anatomy. They exhibit hair, a muscular diaphragm, a 4-chambered heart, and mammary glands. Middle school students can use preserved pigs to begin their exploration of human body systems and structure and function.

Why do fetal pigs dissect?

What is the function of the heart valves in a fetal pig?

The left AV valve, like the one on the other side of the heart, prevents backflow of blood when the ventricle contracts. The left ventricle is the largest and most muscular heart chamber. When it contracts blood is forced under very high pressure out through the aortic semilunar valve and into the aorta.