Why pigs?
The pig is an excellent specimen for studying mammalian anatomy. A great example of a typical mammal, its anatomy exhibits many similarities to human anatomy. From a teaching standpoint, the pig offers the advantages of being perfect for students working in small groups and having internal structures that are typically easy for students to locate and identify. Dissecting a pig presents a real learning experience that encourages critical thinking—especially when done with inquiry-based instruction.

Inquiring minds
What’s great about an inquiry-based approach to dissection is that students learn by critical thinking, questioning, and problem solving. Students can use these skills for further explorations in the classroom and the natural world. Therefore, it’s important to guide your inquiry-based dissection with questions that actively engage your students.

Engaging questions
Having students observe their fetal pigs’ external anatomy (Fig. 1) prior to dissection presents an important learning opportunity. Ask the following questions as students conduct their observations.

Questions about the pig’s basic appearance
Can you name 3 ways in which the pig is different from humans?	Can you name 3 ways in which the pig is similar to humans?
1.	1.
2.	2.
3.	3.
Questions about the pig’s internal anatomy
Can you name 3 ways in which the pig is different from humans?	Can you name 3 ways in which the pig is similar to humans?
1.	1.
2.	2.
3.	3.

Related Resources

Carolina™ Forensic Dissection Kit Carolina's Perfect Solution® Pigs

These questions are extremely important. They engage and focus students on the topic of comparative vertebrate anatomy by having them make inferences rather than rely on direct observations. Posing these questions also allows you to assess what things your students already know about the topic.

How does your pig measure up?
Students may notice obvious size differences if they compare their fetal pigs. They can measure their specimen’s length to determine the approximate age at which fetal development ceased. Specimens should be measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail using a length of string. Students then measure the string with a metric ruler to obtain specimen length. The fetal pig’s approximate age can be determined using the information below.

Specimen length	Approximate age (days from fertilization)
4 cm	56 days
20 cm	75 days
25 cm	100 days
30 cm	112 to 115 days

What makes your pig a mammal?
Two characteristics that set mammals apart from other animals are hair and mammary glands. In an inquiry-based approach, students carefully observe their specimen’s external features to develop an understanding of these characteristics.

Name 3 observable traits placing pigs and humans into these taxa
Phylum Chordata	Class Mammalia
1.	1.
2.	2.
3.	3.

Time to look inside
Continue the inquiry-based dissection as you direct your students to open the pig’s abdominal cavity. Lab manuals should only be used to clarify and reconcile concepts with students following the explore-discovery stages of the inquiry. Before students begin their internal investigation, assess their knowledge with a question.

What are 3 ways in which these pig systems compare to their human counterparts?
Circulatory	Digestive
1.	1.
2.	2.
3.	3.

Using inquiry to understand each system
Let questions lead your students’ investigation of each system. Here is an example of an inquiry-based dissection of the digestive system:

Tube-in-a-tube body plan

1. Considering that the digestive system is a complete internal tube, locate all the major organs along this tube from mouth to anus (Fig. 2 and 3).
2. After you remove the liver, clip out the digestive tract from both ends.
3. Carefully open the digestive tube along its entire length.
4. Using your wash bottle, rinse the contents of the digestive tube out into your waste beaker.
5. Carefully observe the segments using a hand lens.
6. Describe the internal structure of each segment. Are the margins of each segment distinct?
7. Based on internal structure, suggest what specific events occur in a segment that are required to accomplish the digestion of food.
8. Name and describe each of the organs involved in digestion.
9. Measure and record the length of each segment.

The classic anatomy lesson
Inquiry-based pig dissection surpasses anything students can learn from print or pictures. The best dissections begin with Carolina’s Perfect Solution® specimens. Try them for your next dissection or consider some of these engaging classroom kits, featuring Carolina’s Perfect Solution® specimens, for your next pig dissection activity.

Additional resources

• Carolina’s Perfect Solution® Pigs
• Pig Dissection BioKit®
• Carolina™ Forensic Dissection Kit
• Pig Anatomy Kit with Dissecting Set
• Exploring Mammalian Tissue Types Kit

Carolina Biological Supply Company offers a wide variety of preserved specimens to meet your dissection needs. To learn more about our Carolina’s Perfect Solution® specimens, visit www.carolina.com/preserved, where you can also find secure online shopping, product information, classroom resources, activities, and additional teaching tips.