Every year at the end of June we get to go to ConQEST and we always have a ball.
![tradedisplay Trade display at ConQEST 2012](https://dissectionconnection.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/tradedisplay-300x225.jpg)
This year we ran two workshops – a head dissection and a piglet dissection. One of the workshoppers, a lab tech from Emerald, took some great photos of the piglet dissection and has been kind enough to let me share them here.
Step 1 – peg out the beastie on a tray using rubber bands around each foot. Heather from Southern Biological showed me how to do this.
![01banding Displaying the specimen using rubber bands](https://dissectionconnection.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/01banding-225x300.jpg)
Step 2 – make a mid-sagittal incision in the skin
![02skinning Start with a mid-sagittal incision](https://dissectionconnection.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/02skinning-300x225.jpg)
Step 3 – separate the skin from the muscle using a scalpel
![03open Piglet dissection: Exposing the muscles under the skin](https://dissectionconnection.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/03open-300x225.jpg)
![09kneejoint Piglet dissection: exposed tarsals](https://dissectionconnection.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/09kneejoint-300x225.jpg)
Step 4 – locate the diaphragm and identify the organs of the thoracic cavity
![04thoracic Piglet dissection: examining the organs in the thoracic cavity](https://dissectionconnection.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/04thoracic-300x225.jpg)
![08trachea Piglet dissection: the trachea](https://dissectionconnection.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/08trachea-300x225.jpg)
Step 5 – identify the organs of the abdominal cavity
![05abdomen Piglet dissection: organs of the abdominal cavity](https://dissectionconnection.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/05abdomen-300x225.jpg)
![06kidney Piglet dissection: kidney exposed in the abdominal cavity](https://dissectionconnection.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/06kidney-300x225.jpg)
![07intestine Piglet dissection: examining the length of the small intestine](https://dissectionconnection.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/07intestine-300x225.jpg)
So, there you have it. A good time was had by all and then we went to lunch – which is always fabulous at ConQEST. See you there ‘in the flesh’ next year.