How do you determine the age of a fetal pig?
A fetal pig has not been born yet, but its approximate age since conception can be estimated by measuring its length. Measure your pig’s length from the tip of its snout to the base (start) of its tail, using string. Do not measure the tail itself.
What materials are required for a fetal pig dissection?
Materials: preserved fetal pig, dissecting pan, scissors, forceps, blunt probe, twine/string, safety goggles, one pair of disposable latex gloves per dissection day, tape measure.
What do you learn from a fetal pig 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.
How do you remove a brain from a fetal pig?
Your pig should now be dorsal side up. Remove the skin and muscle from the head and carefully expose the skull. With a pair of scissors, poke a small hole to the anterior portion of the skull directly behind the pinnae (ears)….
| Length of Fetus (cm) | Approximate age (days) |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 56 |
| 22.0 | 100 |
| 30 | Full term 112-115 |
How big is a 8 week old pig?
Eight-week-old pigs should weigh at least 35 pounds. Twelve-week-old pigs should weigh at least 60 pounds. Look for healthy pigs.
What do 2 week old piglets eat?
Offer piglet pellets — those designed for baby pigs, not adults — at about 3 1/2 weeks old. Give them a pan of fresh water and still offer milk. It might take them a while to get over the frustration of not being hand-fed as much, but they’ll soon catch on to the pellets.
What dark organ in the abdomen is visible after the first incision?
Carefully cutting through only the skin reveals the underlying abdominal muscles. You can begin to see the dark liver underneath the shiny, transparent peritoneal membrane. Further incisions will reveal the peritoneal cavity encased by the shiny peritoneal membranes.
How will you fasten the fetal pig to the dissection tray?
Place the fetal pig on a dissecting tray ventral (belly) side up. Use two or three rubber bands to tie the right hind leg around the ankle. Run the rubber bands around the underside of the tray and tie the left hind leg. Repeat for the forelegs.
Are fetal pigs killed for dissection?
Fetal pigs are the unborn piglets of sows that were killed by the meat packing industry. These pigs are not bred and killed for this purpose, but are extracted from the deceased sow’s uterus. Fetal pigs not used in classroom dissections are often used in fertilizer or simply discarded.
What are the paired Nares?
What are the paired nares? The two nares are also known as nostrils. Allow air into the nasal cavity for olfactory sensation, warming, and respiration.