Many students want to know why we use fetal pigs in lab. Nearly all of the major anatomical structures are the same or similar. Fetal pigs are neither bred nor killed for the purpose of dissection. They are a byproduct of the pork food industry. Most people do not think of pigs as pets.
Fetal pigs are relatively inexpensive.
Historically, dissection has been the principle tool of investigation for anatomists. Dissection is a hands- on, investigatory kind of activity for students that allows them to test the information they get in lecture and textbooks. Dissection can instill an appreciation for the three dimensional structure of the animal body, as well as the interconnections between tissues, organs, organ systems, and the organism. Dissection impresses on students the normal variation that is present in the natural world. All the information you need to dissect will be provided in lab.