Biology Pig Dissection Terms

Urinary bladder

A saclike structure that stores urine until it can be passed out of the body through the urethra.

Oviduct

A tube through which eggs or egg cells (oocytes) are carried to the uterus in mammals or to the outside of the body in other animals.

Gallbladder

An organ that stores bile and releases it as needed into the small intestine, located next to the liver

Umbilical cord

It consists of the umbilical arteries, umbilical vein, and the allantoic duct. The umbilical arteries consists of two arteries carry deoxygenated blood from fetus to placenta.

Hard palate

It makes up the roof of the mouth and has a rough texture and it is vital for eating.

Soft palate

It makes up the roof of the mouth and is directly behind the hard palate. It is movable. Its job is to close the nasal passage when the animal is swallowing. It will protect the animal while it's sneezing

diaphragm

large muscle that separates the abdominal cavity from the thoracic cavity; it allows for lungs to expand and contract for breathing

Right atrium

located ventrally, right, and anterior (heart)

Right ventricle

located ventrally, right, and posterior; responsible for pumping oxygen-depleted blood to the lungs

Penis

male organ in mammals through which urine and sperm leave the body.

Nipples

mammary papillae on the ventral surface. In the female, both the urogenital tract and the digestive tract exit at the anal region. Only the female has a urogenital papilla; it is ventral to the anus, a structure from which a fluid emanates

Left atrium

one of the four chambers of the heart, located on the left posterior side. Its primary roles are to act as a holding chamber for blood returning from the lungs and to act as a pump to transport blood to other areas of the heart.

Nasopharynx Opening

opening between the throat and the nasal cavity

Anus

opening through which wastes leave the digestive tract

Liver

organ that makes bile to break down fats; also filters poisons and drugs out of the blood, located below the diaphragm

Testis

-an organ that produces spermatozoa (male reproductive cells).

Pancreas

Bumpy yellowish-brown gland located along bottom of the stomach and extending to the duodenum. makes digestive enzymes, which are carried by the pancreatic duct to the duodenum. The pancreas also makes the hormone insulin, which promotes sugar uptake from blood.

Scrotum

External sac that contains the testes

Colon

It removes water, salt, and some nutrients forming stool. Muscles line the its walls, squeezing its contents along. Billions of bacteria coat it and its contents, living in a healthy balance with the body.

Vagina

Muscular tube that connects the uterus to the urogenital sinus, the passage leading from the uterus to the vulva in certain female mammals.

Left ventricle

One of four chambers of the heart. It is located in the bottom left portion of the heart below the left atrium, separated by the mitral valve.

Wrist

The joint directly above the digit and allows the pig to move its digit and plays a major role in walking and balance.

Glottis

The opening between the vocal cords at the upper part of the larynx (the hollow muscular organ forming an air passage to the lungs)

Epiglottis

The thin elastic cartilaginous structure located at the root of the tongue that folds over the glottis to prevent food and liquid from entering the trachea during the act of swallowing.

Urogenital

The vagina and urethra open into a common tube that serves both reproductive and urinary functions in female pigs. This is different from human females where the vagina and urethra exit the body via separate openings

Renal vein

The veins that drain the kidney. They connect the kidney to the inferior vena cava. They carry the blood filtered by the kidney.

Cecum

a blind sac or "dead end" branch off of the large intestine. It looks somewhat like a crooked finger. It is located just below the juncture of the distal end of the ileum and the proximal end of the large intestine.

Ovaries

a female reproductive organ in which ova or eggs are produced, present in humans and other vertebrates as a pair, two small lentil-shaped organs located near the midline in the most posterior region of the abdominopelvic cavity

Trachea

a large membranous tube reinforced by rings of cartilage, extending from the larynx to the bronchial tubes and conveying air to and from the lungs; the windpipe.

Genital Papilla

a part of female external genitalia not present in humans, which appears as a small, fleshy flap of tissue. The papilla covers the opening of the vagina.

Coronary artery

artery that runs anterior to posterior from the left atrium to the right ventricle that supplies blood to the heart

Large Intestine

as the name suggests this is a tightly wound coil of the intestines. They reabsorbs water from digested food.

Umbilical artery

carry de-oxygenated blood and metabolic waste products away from the fetus to the placenta. From there the waste products and carbon dioxide diffuse to the mother's blood and are then cleared from her body.

Kidney

each of a pair of organs in the abdominal cavity of mammals, birds, and reptiles, excreting urine

Lungs

either of the two organs in the chest with which people and some animals breathe

Small intestine

responsible for most chemical digestion and absorption of nutrients, located above the large intestine.

Stomach

stores food while it is being mixed with enzymes that continue to break down the food; secretes strong acids and enzymes to assist in the breaking down process, located below the liver and next to the pancreas.

Pulmonary Artery

the artery carrying blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs for oxygenation.

Ureter

the duct by which urine passes from the kidney to the bladder or cloaca.

Vas deferens

the duct that conveys sperm from the testicle to the urethra.

Duodenum

the first part of the small intestine immediately beyond the stomach, leading to the jejunum(the part of the small intestine)

Tongue

the fleshy muscular organ in the mouth of a mammal, used for tasting, licking, swallowing,

Larynx

the hollow muscular organ forming an air passage to the lungs and holding the vocal cords in humans and other mammals; the voice box.

Knee

the joint between the thigh and the lower leg

Ankle

the joint connecting the foot with the leg.

Urethra

the large tube that exits off the bottom of the urinary bladder. The bladder must be pulled up and it can be separated from the surrounding tissue. It enables urine to flow from the urinary bladder to the urogenital opening.

Aorta

the main artery of the body, supplying oxygenated blood to the circulatory system.

pericardium

the membrane enclosing the heart, consisting of an outer fibrous layer and an inner double layer of serous membrane.

Digit

the pig's "hooves" it is the structure that supports the pig.

Esophagus

the tube that connects the pharynx with the stomach

Spleen

thin flat organ in the pig that is located along the left lateral margin of the stomach toward the extreme left side. Looks like a flat worm or leech. is involved with maturation and processing of immune cells that protect the body. It is found along the left external margin of the stomach. It is an immune system organ that fights infection and also breaks down expired red blood cells.

Mesentery

thin sheets of tissue that hold the internal organs in place and provide them with a blood supply and nervous input.