Download Chicken Wing Dissection

Biology I
Ms. Chen
Name(s):
Date:
Chicken Wing Dissection
Overview:
You will make observations about the muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones that
make up the wing of a bird.
Objective: Understand how the skeletal and muscular systems interact in a bird.
Materials:
Chicken Wing
Gloves
Scissors
Forceps
Tablecloth
Dissection tray
Procedure:
1. Use the provided diagrams to help you locate the following structures:
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•
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Shoulder joint
Humerus
Elbow join
Radius
Ulna
2. Observe and examine how the wing looks and feels.
TAKS Objective 2
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TEKS 7.9 A
3. Using the scissors, cut down the middle of the skin, starting at the top end
of the upper wing. Try not to cut the muscles below the skin. Do this by
piercing the skin and then slipping the scissor between the skin layers and
the muscle. Cut until you reach the shoulder joint.
4. Cut down the sides of the skin to make a T-shaped cut. Start at the first
cut and cut away in both directions. Peel the skin and cut to loosen it.
Fat:
5. Yellowish clumps found under the skin is fat tissue made of fat cells.
Remove this tissue.
Muscles:
6. Find two muscles in the wing that bend and straighten the elbow joint.
Each muscle pulls on the lower wing bones in one direction (the flexor
bends the joint). Since the flexor cannot lengthen by itself to push the
bone back to straighten the joint, another muscle pulls the bone in the
opposite direction (extensor)
7. Hold the wing down at the shoulder and alternately pull on each muscle.
Observe what happens.
Tendons:
TAKS Objective 2
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TEKS 7.9 A
8. Tendons are shiny white tissues at the ends of the muscles that attach
muscles to bones. Find as many tendons as you can on the chicken wing.
9. Pull on a tendon to see how it helps the chicken move its wing.
Joints and Ligaments:
10. Two bones come together at a joint. Bend and straighten the elbow joint
and observe how the bones fit together.
11. Ligaments connect bones to other bones at joints. They look like a shiny
white covering of the joints surfaces.
12. Closely examine the elbow joint between the upper wing and the lower
wing and identify the ligaments.
Cartilage:
13. Between the bones is another shiny white material that is slippery. This is
cartilage which helps the bones move without grinding against one
another.
Wing:
14. Move the wing again. Explore how the muscles, tendons, ligaments and
cartilage play roles in the wings movement.
15. Finally, remove one of the bones and break in half. Observe the external
and internal components of the bone.
16. Complete the observation table. When you have finished observing the
wing, throw the chicken remains away. Wash all equipment in hot, soapy
water.
17. Wash your hands with hot water and soap.
TAKS Objective 2
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TEKS 7.9 A
Observation Table
Tissue
Description (color, texture, etc.)
Tissue it attaches to
Skin
Muscle
Tendon
Ligament
Cartilage
Bone
Questions:
1. Which joint in the human body is similar to the joint you studied?
2. Do muscles work alone? Explain your answer.
3. What types of tissue actually moves the chicken wing?
4. Why are tendons important to the muscle’s ability to make the body
move?
TAKS Objective 2
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TEKS 7.9 A
5. What tissue of the chicken wing is commonly referred to as the “meat”?
6. Do you think this wing is from the left side or the right side of the
chicken’s body? Explain your answer.
Lab Modified from K12 Chicken Wing Anatomy Lab:
http://v7.k12.com/curriculum/subjects/sample_lessons/life_science/mediaFiles/MS_LFSCI06_10_
a03_chicken_wing_lab.pdf
TAKS Objective 2
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TEKS 7.9 A