Course Overview

Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory

This course, BIO 2870, is an introductory laboratory in Anatomy and Physiology designed for students in health and biological sciences. The course emphasizes hands-on learning, model identification, and understanding the structure and function of the human body at multiple levels of organization.

• Location: Shapero Hall RM 415

• Schedule: Mondays/Wednesdays, 8:30 – 10:20 AM

• Lab Instructor: Aliyah Goldson

• Required Materials: Digital lab manual via TopHat platform

Course Structure and Grading

Grading Components

• Lab Practicals: 3 practicals, 100 points each (total 300 points)

• Quizzes: 10 quizzes, 10 points each (lowest 3 dropped, total 70 points)

• Participation: Up to 10 points for active engagement in lab activities

• TopHat Points: Up to 40 points for completing digital activities (extra credit possible)

• Total Lab Points: 400 (out of 900 total course points; lab is ~45% of grade)

Policies: No abbreviations on quizzes/practicals unless specified. Students must answer in the correct space and may request re-grades within one week (1-2 days for the final practical).

Assessment Details

• Practicals: Station-based identification (50 identifications per practical, 1.5 minutes per station, no returning to previous stations)

• Quizzes: 20 minutes each, various formats (fill-in-the-blank, short answer, essay, identification), no make-ups

• Participation: Earned by active work with models, group study, and labeling exercises

• TopHat Points: Awarded for timely completion and correctness of digital activities

Success Strategies

• Read lab exercises before class

• Attend every lab and arrive on time

• Study models/images used in practicals

• Use active recall and group study

• Utilize study tools (coloring books, flashcards, Quizlet/Anki)

• Check Canvas for updates and resources

Exercise 1: Body Organization and Terminology

Levels of Organization

The human body is organized into hierarchical levels, each with increasing complexity:

• Chemical: Atoms and molecules, including organelles within cells

• Cellular: Basic unit of life; molecules organized into cells

• Tissue: Groups of similar cells performing specific functions

• Organ: Structures composed of two or more tissue types

• Organ System: Related organs with a common function

• Organism: All systems working cooperatively

Anatomical Position

The anatomical position is the standard reference for anatomical terminology:

• Standing erect, eyes forward

• Arms at sides, palms forward, fingers extended

• Legs slightly apart, feet flat, toes pointing forward

Anatomical Planes and Sections

• Sagittal Plane: Divides body into right and left portions

• Coronal (Frontal) Plane: Divides body into anterior (front) and posterior (back)

• Transverse (Horizontal) Plane: Divides body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts

• Oblique Sections: Cuts at an angle other than 90°

Directional Terms

Used to describe the relative position of body structures:

• Superior (Cranial): Toward the head

• Inferior (Caudal): Toward the feet

• Anterior (Ventral): Toward the front

• Posterior (Dorsal): Toward the back

• Medial: Toward the midline

• Lateral: Away from the midline

• Proximal: Closer to the point of attachment

• Distal: Farther from the point of attachment

• Superficial: Toward the surface

• Deep: Away from the surface

• Ipsilateral: On the same side

• Contralateral: On the opposite side

Example: The diaphragm is superior to the stomach.

Body Regions and Cavities

• Open Cavities: Open to the external environment (e.g., oral cavity, inside the lungs)

• Closed Cavities: Only accessible by cutting through a membrane (e.g., thoracic, abdominopelvic, cranial, spinal cavities)

Major Body Cavities

• Dorsal Cavity: Cranial and spinal cavities

• Ventral Cavity: Thoracic (pleural, pericardial, mediastinum) and abdominopelvic (abdominal, pelvic) cavities

Serous Membranes

• Pleura: Surrounds the lungs

• Pericardium: Surrounds the heart

• Peritoneum: Surrounds abdominal and pelvic organs

Abdominopelvic Regions

The abdominopelvic cavity can be divided for anatomical or clinical purposes:

• Anatomical Divisions: Nine regions (e.g., hypochondriac, lumbar, iliac, epigastric, umbilical, hypogastric)

• Clinical Divisions: Four quadrants (right upper, left upper, right lower, left lower)

Tip: 'Hypo-' means under; 'lumbar' refers to lower back; 'iliac' is near the hip bone.

Organ Systems Overview

• Integumentary (skin, hair, nails, sweat glands)

• Skeletal (bones, joints)

• Muscular (skeletal muscles)

• Nervous (brain, spinal cord, nerves)

• Endocrine (glands, pancreas, hormones)

• Cardiovascular (heart, blood vessels)

• Lymphatic (lymph nodes, spleen, lymph vessels)

• Respiratory (lungs, trachea, bronchi)

• Digestive (oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, intestines)

• Urinary (kidneys, bladder)

• Reproductive (male: testes, vas deferens; female: ovaries, uterus)

Exercise 2: Care and Use of the Compound Light Microscope

Microscope Basics

• Simple Microscope: Uses a single lens

• Compound Microscope: Uses multiple lenses for greater magnification

Key Definitions

• Resolution (Resolving Power): Ability to distinguish two points as separate

• Magnification: Degree to which the image is enlarged

• Field of View: Area visible through the microscope

• Depth of Field: Thickness of the specimen that is in focus

• Parfocal: Ability to remain in focus when switching objectives

Calculating Total Magnification

• Formula: Power of eyepiece × Power of objective lens

Examples:

• 4X Objective × 10X Eyepiece =

• 10X Objective × 10X Eyepiece =

• 40X Objective × 10X Eyepiece =

Exercise 3: Cell Structure

Types of Cells

• Prokaryotic Cells: Lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles

• Eukaryotic Cells: Contain a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles (focus of this course)

Major Cell Structures

• Nucleus: Contains genetic material (DNA), controls cell activities

• Nuclear Envelope: Double membrane surrounding the nucleus

• Nucleoplasm: Semi-fluid medium inside the nucleus

• Nucleolus: Site of ribosome synthesis

• Chromatin: DNA and protein complex within the nucleus

• Plasma (Cell) Membrane: Selectively permeable barrier surrounding the cell

• Cytoplasm: Includes cytosol (fluid) and organelles

Organelles

• Membranous Organelles: Bound by membranes (e.g., rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, lysosomes, transport vesicles)

• Non-membranous Organelles: Not surrounded by membranes (e.g., centrioles, cilia, microvilli, free ribosomes)

Example: Mitochondria are the site of ATP (energy) production.

Table: Major Cell Organelles and Functions

Additional info: For detailed diagrams and further reading, refer to Table 3.1 and Figures 3.1 & 3.2 in your lab manual.