Name: ______________________________________________________ Per:____________

Date:___________________

Digestive System Dissection Guide

For each part of the digestive system write at least three observations and
answer the question in each section.

Salivary Gland: (You may need to skin the face some more)

The salivary glands are stimulated at the onset of what phase of digestion?

Esophagus:

Why are you able to swallow upside down?

Stomach:

Name: ______________________________________________________ Per:____________

Date:___________________

Palpate the most superior and inferior portions of the stomach. What do you
notice? What do you think this is?

Small Intestine:

The small intestine of a human is about 20 feet long. What is the

evolutionary advantage of this?

Large Intestine:

There is no nutrient absorption in the large intestine. What do you think is

absorbed in the large intestine? Why?

Name: ______________________________________________________ Per:____________

Date:___________________

What are the parts of the large intestine?

Liver:

A human liver has 4 lobes. How many lobes does the cat liver have?

Spleen:

Make a prediction about the role of the spleen. Why do you think this?

Pancreas:

Name: ______________________________________________________ Per:____________

Date:___________________

Now that you have seen the pancreas, explain why pancreatic cancer
removal is one of the most difficult surgeries to perform.

Additional Questions
Outline the path through the alimentary canal.

Name three accessory organs.

What is the role of the mesentery?

What is the role of the omentum?