Comparative Anatomy:
In this project, we studied taxonomy and anatomy. This project culminated in the dissections of several different animals by my class. People dissected pigs, horseshoe crabs, sea cucumbers, sharks, squid, starfish, turtles, rats, frogs, etc. |
Domestic Pig: Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia |
Order: Artiodactyla Family: Suidae Order: Sus Species: S. scrofa |
I dissected a fetal pig. This was interesting, as pigs have internal anatomy very similar to that of a human. We got to dissect the cardio-vascular, respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems, as well as some musculature and bone structure. The digestive system is particularly similar to that of a human, and we were able to locate and name the system from trachea to large intestine.
Digestive System:
A pig has a monogastric digestive system, meaning that they have only one stomach. The digestive system starts at the mouth, then goes down the esophagus (located posterior of the trachea), through the diaphragm, into the stomach where it is broken down by hydrochloric acid, then on into the small then large intestines.
Cardio-Vascular and Respiratory Systems:
In looking at these systems, which are so interconnected, you can start in one of two places. The first is the heart, but I find it more intuitive to start with the trachea. Air, and oxygen, come into the lungs by way of the trachea. The oxygen gets put into the blood stream via the bronchioles. The newly oxygenated blood is then brought back down to the heart through the pulmonary artery. From there, the heart pumps the newly oxygenated blood all over the body to then have the oxygen used in cellular respiration in order for the body to function. The blood also passes by the stomach and small intestines in order to pick up the glucose ect. that comes out of digestion. The blood therefore also passes through the liver, which removes any toxins that may have found their way into the blood stream.
Nervous system:
The nervous system is what sends signals that tell your body what to do. The biggest part of the nervous system is the brain. This sits in the head, at the top of the spinal chord, and is the control center. A brain is a vastly complex network of neurons which are all firing based on different stimulus, and assessing what signals to send to the muscles around the body. The next part is the spinal chord, the chord running down inside of the spine that holds nerves going all over its body. Why breaking the spinal chord can make for paralysis is because all of the nerves that tell your muscles to go are severed, and therefore cannot get the message to go through. From the spinal chord, smaller nerves go all throughout your body, doing everything from helping you see to reminding your heart to beat and your lungs to inhale.
Digestive System:
A pig has a monogastric digestive system, meaning that they have only one stomach. The digestive system starts at the mouth, then goes down the esophagus (located posterior of the trachea), through the diaphragm, into the stomach where it is broken down by hydrochloric acid, then on into the small then large intestines.
Cardio-Vascular and Respiratory Systems:
In looking at these systems, which are so interconnected, you can start in one of two places. The first is the heart, but I find it more intuitive to start with the trachea. Air, and oxygen, come into the lungs by way of the trachea. The oxygen gets put into the blood stream via the bronchioles. The newly oxygenated blood is then brought back down to the heart through the pulmonary artery. From there, the heart pumps the newly oxygenated blood all over the body to then have the oxygen used in cellular respiration in order for the body to function. The blood also passes by the stomach and small intestines in order to pick up the glucose ect. that comes out of digestion. The blood therefore also passes through the liver, which removes any toxins that may have found their way into the blood stream.
Nervous system:
The nervous system is what sends signals that tell your body what to do. The biggest part of the nervous system is the brain. This sits in the head, at the top of the spinal chord, and is the control center. A brain is a vastly complex network of neurons which are all firing based on different stimulus, and assessing what signals to send to the muscles around the body. The next part is the spinal chord, the chord running down inside of the spine that holds nerves going all over its body. Why breaking the spinal chord can make for paralysis is because all of the nerves that tell your muscles to go are severed, and therefore cannot get the message to go through. From the spinal chord, smaller nerves go all throughout your body, doing everything from helping you see to reminding your heart to beat and your lungs to inhale.