112 Biology
Pig Dissection Lab Assignment
Lab Day Questions:
1. What is the length in mm of your specimen? What is the approximate age of your specimen using the following chart?
21 days - 11 mm / 56 days - 40 mm35 days - 17 mm / 100 days - 220 mm
49 days - 28 mm / 115 days - 300 mm
2. What sex is your specimen?
Research Questions:
3. What is the mesentery? What are its functions?
4. Different parts of the tongue are sensitive to different tastes. Why should we devote tongue space to bitterness?
5. In humans, the uvula hangs as a pendant from the posterior end of the soft palate. During swallowing, it lifts upward and closes off the nasopharynx. Why is this important?
6. Why does the trachea have cartilaginous rings?
7. Why are so many alcoholics signed up for liver transplants?
8. In humans, what structure is found at the junction between the small and large intestine?
9. What sac-like structure do you find attached to the underside of the liver? Describe its appearance.
10. What structure separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity?
11. What are lacteals? What do they do? Where are they found? What system do they empty into?
12. Would you expect carnivores to have longer or shorter intestines than herbivores? Why?
13. What happens if the contents of the colon pass too rapidly through the colon? Too slowly?
14. The dual circulation of mammals is reflected not only in separate pulmonary and systemic circulatory systems, but also in the four-chambered heart. Fish blood leaves the heart, goes to the gills for oxygenation, and then continues out to the body. How many atria do fish have? How many ventricles?
15. Complete the table which follows. State at least one function for the listing of organs below. Indicate the system the organ belongs to (endocrine, excretory, nervous, digestive, etc.) ex: dorsal nerve cord -- carries nerve impulses (brain to body and vice versa) (nervous system)
Organ / Function / Body Systemthymus gland
diaphragm
Liver
gall bladder
spleen
pancreas
Testes/ovaries