Fetal Pig Dissection, Review Activities, and Lab Test

The fetal pig dissection is an invaluable learning experience! Make this dissection experience as impactful as possible by including these fetal pig dissection resources.

I personally use this resource as a cumulative final project and exam in my Anatomy & Physiology course; however, I designed it that it could be used at any point in your school year.

This full resource spans 6 full 45-minute class periods in my 11th & 12th grade classroom. You can easily reformat this schedule to fit block scheduling. Here's how I schedule it out:

• Days 1 – 4: Working in a group of 2-4, your students will dissect the pig with the guidance of 80+ instructional slides, including diagrams and videos. While they work through the instructional slides, they will answer questions in their 16-page group packet.
• Day 5: Students will review the dissection using the 75+ digital flashcards on the anatomy of a pig and 4-page physiology challenge worksheet on the job and details of each structure.
• Day 6: Let’s see what they learned! Students will take a 100-point station-style practical (included) on the anatomy and physiology of the fetal pig.

Resources included:

• 80+ group-paced instructional slides (through Google Slides™ or PowerPoint)
• 16-page group packet
• Digital 16-page group packet
• 75+ digital flashcards (through Google Slides™ or PowerPoint)
• 4-page Physiology Challenge Activity
• Digital 4-page Physiology Challenge Activity
• 100-question station-style lab test, answer sheet, and key
• 5 separate instructional videos (10-ish minutes each) for prior viewing by the teacher or students
• 2 pages of teacher instructions

What makes this resource so special?

• The 80-slide lab instructions explain through words, pictures, and videos how to find each structure and what each structure does.
• Students each have a role in the dissection (dissector, recorder, manager, assistant), keeping all students engaged and purposeful.
• The text in all of the resources is editable, allowing you to change this resource to meet your needs.
• The pictures provided in all resources are crisp and clear, allowing your students to easily navigate the anatomy of the fetal pig.
• This resource provides six full days of activities that all tie together, creating a cohesive and impactful learning experience.
• The videos included are designed to help you as the teacher more comfortable completing the dissection, but also can be viewed by your students before or after the dissection to enhance learning. It is packed with memory hooks and valuable information!

Structures covered by this dissection:

• Anatomy terminology: directional terms, body cavities, body planes
• External Anatomy: snout, pinnae, taste buds, teats, urogenital opening, umbilical cord, scrotum
• Integumentary System: hair follicle, hair shaft, hair root, sudoriferous glands
• Muscular & Skeletal System: tendon, biceps femoris, femur
• General Internal Anatomy: umbilical arteries & veins, urinary bladder, peritoneum
• Digestive System: hard palate, soft palate, canine teeth, incisors, molars, tongue, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, common bile duct, stomach, rugae, pyloric sphincter, small intestine, villi, large intestine, rectum, anus, pancreas, mesentery
• Urinary System: kidney, renal artery, renal vein, ureter, urinary bladder, urethra, renal cortex, renal medulla, renal pelvis
• Immune & Endocrine System: adrenal glands, spleen, thymus gland, thyroid gland
• Respiratory System: epiglottis, larynx, trachea, lungs, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, diaphragm
• Cardiovascular System: heart, pericardium, coronary artery, left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, right ventricle, left auricle, right auricle, pulmonary artery, aorta
• Nervous System (optional): brain

Do you want a consistent set of dissections to use throughout the year? Check out the Anatomy Dissection Bundle.

Please note: This dissection is included in my full-year A&P curriculum as a BONUS FILE!