Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab Organization of the Body
Many Explorers use maps, figures, and photographs to help orient themselves to the terrain to be explored. The anatomist uses maps, figures, and photos to explore the body and its parts. The use of maps and other aids to find a geographical position is called orienteering, and is a useful analogy to human anatomical study. At the beginning of this exercise, you will learn how anatomical “maps” and models are read. Later in this exercise, you will become familiar with the major body systems and some of their organs so that you will be comfortable with the “lay of the land” in the human body. Remember our class motto…”It’s not just a body…it’s an adventure”!!!
Purpose: When you finish this exercise you should be able to:
1. Use anatomical terms correctly
2. Discuss the nature of an anatomical section
3. Describe the basic plan of the human body
4. Identify the major body cavities
5. List the major systems of the body, their principal organs, and their primary functions.
Materials:
Lab partners Sharpie Masking tape Text Book
Procedure:
Part A Planes (Pages 11 – 14)
A section refers to a part cut along a plane. A plane is a geometrical concept referring to an imagined flat surface. The term cross section (c.s.) refers to a part cut crosswise. A longitudinal section (l.s.) is a cut made lengthwise. These are useful only in limited circumstances because they do not really identify whether the cuts are made top to bottom, front to back or side to side. There are three anatomical planes used to describe the sections of the body. 1. Cut 5, 8” strips of masking tape. Write sagittal plane on one, and on the others write frontal/coronal plane, horizontal/transverse plane, and midsagittal plane.
2. Place these strips of tape on your lab partner’s torso in the correct location.
3. If you have a digital camera, take a photo of your lab partner. If not, ask Mrs. Roach to take a photo for you.
Part B Anatomical Directions (page 10)
To locate structures within a body or on the surface of the body, you must use directional terms.
1. Cut 14, 3” strips of masking tape. Write the directional terms given in Table 1.1, page 10.
2. Place these strips of tape on your lab partner’s body in the correct location with reference to the planes.
3. If you have a digital camera, take a photo of your lab partner. If not, ask Mrs. Roach to take a photo for you.
Part C Body Cavities and Abdominal regions (pages 14 – 15)
The inside of the human body contains the viscera, or internal organs. The viscera are found in any of a number of cavities (spaces) within the body.
1. Since your lab partner is not cut open (!!) you will NOT place cavity labels on him/her, but instead use Figure 1.12 pg. 15 to label the cavities and the organs within the cavity. Mrs. Roach will provide this handout during class.
Because the abdominopelvic cavity is so large and contains so many different organs, it is often convenient to subdivide it into nine abdominal regions.
2. Cut 4, 8-10” masking tape strips. Place them on your lab partner’s abdominopelvic area to indicate the appropriate abdominal quadrants. Refer to figure 1.9 (a), page 12 for assistance.
3. Cut 9, 3” masking tape strips and label them as follows: right hypochondriac region, right lumbar region, right iliac region, left hypochondriac region, left lumbar region, left iliac region, epigastric region, hypogastric region, umbilical region. Place them on your lab partner in the appropriate location. Refer to figure 1.9 (b) on page 12.
4. If you have a digital camera, take a photo of your lab partner. If not, ask Mrs. Roach to take a photo for you.
Part D Surface Regions (pages 11 – 12) There are hundreds of terms that describe specific locations on the surface of the human body. These names are useful not only for identifying surface features but also the underlying muscles, bones, nerves, and blood vessels.
1. In this activity, locate surface anatomy terms named in the list below and make 3” masking tape labels for each one. Place these on your lab partner in the correct places.
2. If you have a digital camera, take a photo of your lab partner. If not, ask Mrs. Roach to take a photo for you.
SURFACE ANATOMY TERMS
ABDOMINAL COXAL ORBITAL ACROMIAL CRURAL OTIC ACROMIAL CUBITAL PALMAR ANTEBRACHIAL DIGITAL PECTORAL ANTECUBITAL DIGITAL PEDAL AXILLARY DORSAL PLANTAR BRACHIAL FEMORAL POPLITEAL BUCCAL FRONTAL SACRAL CALCANEAL GLUTEAL SCAPULAR CARPAL LUMBAR STERNAL CELIAC MENTAL SURAL CEPHALIC NASAL TARSAL CERVICAL NUCHAL UMBILICAL CLAVICULAR OCCIPITAL VERTEBRAL COSTAL ORAL