Lab 2: Chicken Wing Dissection

Lab: Exploring the Skeletal Muscular System and Articular System through a Chicken Wing Dissection You will be looking at the muscles, tendons, ligaments and cartilage around the elbow. This lab utilizes hands-on learning to explore concepts such as muscle structure, joint anatomy, and the interaction between bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Care: sharp scissors Materials Needed Fresh chicken wings (one per group) Dissection tray Scalpel or sharp scissors Tweezers Forceps Gloves (one pair per student) Protective goggles Paper towels Ruler or goniometer (optional, for measuring joint angles) Labels and toothpicks (for identifying structures) Notebook or worksheet for observations Step-by-Step Procedure Preparation : W ear gloves and goggles for safety. Place the chicken wing on the dissection tray with the underside facing up. Observation of External Features : Examine the skin covering the wing. Discuss its role in protection and insulation. Remove the Skin : Using scissors or a scalpel, carefully cut the skin along the length of the wing. Gently peel it back to expose the muscles below. Note the color and texture of the muscles and document observations. Explore Muscles , Tendons , Ligaments ,C artilage and Synovial Fluid Discuss the Muscular System, Articular System and Skeletal System Identify the major muscle groups. Pull the muscles apart with your fingers to locate the strong white tendons , at the end of them. Discuss how muscles appear in bundles and are attached to bones via tendons. Gently pull on a muscle to observe how it moves the wing. Highlight the concept of antagonistic muscle pairs (e.g., flexors and extensors). Gently tug on tendons and identify how they connect muscles to bones. Discuss their role in transmitting force during movement. Cut away the muscles and tendons and find the ligaments (connecting bones to bones) at the sides of the elbow. Bend the elbow joint and cut into the bottom to find more ligaments inside , noting their roles in joint movement/stability . Observe the synovial joints and f eel the cartilage on the ends of the bones , which provides cushioning. Look for synovial fluid , noting its role of lubrication. Use a goniometer or ruler to measure the range of motion of the joints. Locate the bones in the chicken wing. Identify the humerus, radius, and ulna, and compare their structure to human arm bones. Clean Up : Dispose of chicken wing parts in a biohazard bag. Clean all tools and dissection trays as per laboratory safety guidelines. Wash your hands a t the end . Chicken Wing Dissection Lab Task Sheet Choose a description and function for each tissue and complete the table. Tissue Description Function muscle tendon ligament cartilage Functionsprotects ends of bonescontracts to pull bones togetherattaches muscle to boneattaches bone to boneDescriptions very strong, white, doesn’t stretch strong, white, slightly stretchy springy, pale brown smooth, white, slippery, slightly squashy Discussion Questions How do the structures of the chicken wing's bones, muscles, and joints compare to those of the human arm? Explain how antagonistic muscle pairs work, using the chicken wing dissection as an example . What is the function of synovial fluid in the joints, and why is it significant for movement? How does the presence of cartilage and ligaments contribute to the stability and flexibility of the joint?