Chicken Wing Dissection – Introduction to Tissues
Purpose:
To observe 8 types of tissue in the body and understand location, color, and texture. To observe how
the muscular and skeletal systems work together to move/support a chicken’s wing and relate this to
the arrangement of comparable anatomical structures of the human body.
Lab report: You will submit a lab report IN YOUR notebook. The lab report will contain:
 the sketch below, labeled as instructed
 a completed version of the “Chicken Wing Dissection Table” (with 8 tissue types)
 answers to Discussion Questions A-I and Analysis Questions #1-3 in COMPLETE SENTENCES
 a thoroughly completed concluding paragraph
Joint B
Joint C
Joint A
Figure 1
Figure 2
Draw a Sketch and label (before dissection):
 Make a sketch similar to the one above and label the structures that we have covered in class
(label the bones as if they were bones of the human arm. (humerus, ulna, radius, carpals).
Regardless of the few differences, the arrangement of the chicken wing closely resembles that
of the upper extremity of a human.
 Label the joints (A, B,C) with their locations: distal, intermediate, proximal
Procedure:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Put on gloves. (work in groups of 2-3 students)
Obtain a chicken wing, dissecting tray and dissecting equipment.
Rinse the chicken wing under cool, running water and thoroughly dry it with a paper towel.
Pick up the wing and imagine it is still on the chicken. Notice that the “thumb” is superior.
5. Discussion Question A:
Do you think your wing is from the right or left side of the chicken?
Thoroughly explain your answer in complete sentences.
6. Imagine that the wing is a human arm. Create and observe movement in the joints. Use your
wing and Figure 1 to answer questions B through E below:
Question B: Which joint in the human body is the equivalent to joint A?
Why do you think so?
Question C: Which joint in the human body is the equivalent to Joint B?
Why do you think so?
Question D: Which joint in the human body is the equivalent to Joint C?
Why do you think so?
7. Examine the skin covering the chicken wing. Fill in #1 on the Dissection Table.
8. Using Figure 2, make a transverse cut along the length of the wing (see Cut 1).
Try not to cut through the muscles below the skin. Do this by piercing the skin and then
slipping the scissors between the skin layer and the muscle. Cut until you reach Joint A.
9. Using Figure 2, make a sagittal cut in toward the lateral end of the wing (see Cut 2). You will
Make a T-shaped cut. Start at the first cut and then cut away from it in both directions.
Try not to cut through the muscles below the skin.
10. Remove the skin from the wing. This is difficult so TAKE YOUR TIME. It works best if you slide
your finger around under the skin to break up some of the connective tissues; you may need to
use your scissors to gently cut away the skin. Pull the skin back as you go; pull top to bottom.
11. Notice the yellowish tissue found in small clumps on the inside of the skin .
Fill in #2 on the Table.
12. Observe the muscles on the wing. They are bundles of pale pink tissue.
Fill in #3 on the Table.
13. Follow a bundle of muscle down to the tendon. Observe the shiny white tendon.
What is the function of tendons? Pull on a tendon to see how it helps to move the wing.
Fill in #4 on the Table.
14. Notice the ligaments at the joint. What is the function of ligaments? Observe their
arrangement with the bones at each of the joints A,B,C.
Fill in #5 on the Table.
15. Find a thin reddish-brown strand of tissue. Gently pull it aside with the dissecting needle.
This is a blood vessel. (you may need to review your tissues in Ch. 3 for this)
Fill in #6 on the Table.
16. Remove the muscles and tendons from the bone to expose Joint B. Pull the bones apart at
the joint. Look for the ligaments that hold the bones together. If you can, locate two
ligaments crossing each other. These are the cruciate ligaments (often injured by athletes).
Question E: How did ligaments hold the bones together? Describe and draw a sketch.
17. Pull apart a joint and observe the ends of the bones. What type of material do you see on the
ends of the bones making up the joints?
Fill in #7 on the Table.
Question F: What is the function of this material? What type of joint can it be found in?
18. Carefully look inside one of the bones.
Question G: Describe what you observe about the structure of chicken bone.
Question H: Why is bone considered to be a connective tissue?
Question I: What substances make bone so hard?
19. CLEAN UP:
 Collect the chicken remains and place them in the trash. Use your gloves or a paper towel
to clean out your dissection tray
Note: if you do not finish the procedural portion of the lab in one period you
must save your specimen. Write your names on a bag then put your chicken wing
in a labeled bag. You may have the next period to finish up your observations.





Remove the gloves on your hands by holding on by your write and pulling away from you,
turning the glove inside out. Discard them in the trash.
WASH YOUR HANDS VERY WELL WITH SOAP AND WATER!!
Wash the tray with hot, soapy water and dry. Stack on the counter.
Wash your dissection tools carefully with hot, soapy water. Do NOT dry. Lay to dry on a
paper towel on the counter
Disinfect your lab table – remember, students each their lunch here! Clean it well.
Answer the following Analysis Questions #1-3 below. USE COMPLETE SENTENCES.
Analysis Questions:
1. What tissue of the chicken wing is commonly referred to as the “meat”?
2. Why would a bird be unable to fly if there were torn tendons in the wing?
3. Why does a chicken need to have so many different bundles of muscles attaching to different
parts of the bones?
Conclusion:
Look back at the purpose. Think critically about what you learned by doing this lab:
1. Explain how bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments work together to move a chicken’s wing.
Use observations to support your explanation.
2. Write a paragraph discussing:
o The benefits of this lab (for your understanding of the purpose)
o Suggestions for this lab
o Your favorite part of this lab
Chicken Wing Dissection Table
#
Type of
Tissue(s)
List the
anatomical
term(s) for
each tissue
1.
Skin
____________
____________
2.
Fat
____________
3.
Muscle
____________
Description AND Function
(color, length, texture, etc.)
Location
use directional and regional terms
to describe location
(deep/superficial, lateral/medial,
proximal/distal, anterior/posterior)
and describe attachment locations
when applicable
4.
Tendon
____________
#
Type of
Tissue(s)
List the
anatomical
term(s) for
each tissue
5.
Ligament
____________
6.
Blood
Vessel
____________
7
Cartilage
____________
Description AND Function
(color, length, texture, etc.)
Location
use directional and regional terms
to describe location
(deep/superficial, lateral/medial,
proximal/distal, anterior/posterior)
and describe attachment locations
when applicable
8
Bone
____________