Artefact: Fetal Pig Dissection

For the Internal Systems unit, the artefact that I choose to talk about is the dissection of
the fetal pig. For this unit we learned the different internal systems such as the circulatory,
respiratory, and digestive. The photograph that is above is our groups dissected pig. The fetal
pig had no eyes and the skin appeared to be a beige colour. It has 4 toes, no hair on the chin, no
eyelashes, however a tongue. The pig was about 7 cm and approximately less than 20 days old.
There was an umbilical cord attached to the pig. We then placed our fetal pig on a black tray,
faced upward in order to cut, and pin it down. Firstly, we cut the middle part of the pig to see the
digestive system. We had to locate the gallbladder and how it was connected to the small
intestine of the pig which was on the top. We also locate the pancreas and small and large
intestine. The length of the small intestine was about 49 cm while the large intestine is 15 cm.
Secondly; we check the pigs circulatory system. We had to determine the artery that runs from
the liver and lower part of the body to the right side of the heart which was the inferior vena
cava. Then the upper body of the pigs artery was the superior vena cava. We also locate the
aorta which was the largest artery in the circulatory system. We noticed that the ventricles are
thicker than the atria walls. Lastly, we got to check the pigs respiratory system. There were a
right and left side lungs and the difference. The reason for it to be different size is because it has
to allow room for the heart. We noticed that the lungs are spongy; however this was for them to
absorb oxygen better. We also locate the diaphragm of the pig which was to separate the heart
and lungs to fill in volume. The structures that protect the lungs would be the thoracic age which
is rib cage. All of these learning aspects will help me apply this knowledge in real life because
the pigs internal system is similar to humans. It gives us a better look on how our body works.
Humans should know the three important system because it gives us an understanding of how we
breathe, digest, and what keep us alive. From all this knowledge and dissection, it will help
people who want to work in the medical field.