Anatomy & Physiology I: Lab Exam 1 Study Guide

Body Organization and Terminology

Body Cavities

The human body contains several major cavities that house and protect internal organs. Understanding these cavities is essential for anatomical orientation.

• Cranial cavity: Contains the brain.

• Vertebral (spinal) cavity: Contains the spinal cord.

• Thoracic cavity: Contains the heart and lungs; subdivided into pleural cavities (lungs) and pericardial cavity (heart).

• Abdominopelvic cavity: Contains digestive, urinary, and reproductive organs; subdivided into abdominal and pelvic cavities.

Regional Terms

Regional terms are used to specify locations on the body. These terms are essential for describing injuries, procedures, or anatomical structures.

• Sacral: Region at the base of the spine.

• Gluteal: Buttock region.

• Lumbar: Lower back region.

• Thoracic: Chest region.

• Cervical: Neck region.

• Oral: Mouth region.

• Mental: Chin region.

• Crural: Leg (shin) region.

• Sural: Calf region.

• Otic: Ear region.

• Axillary: Armpit region.

• Femoral: Thigh region.

• Buccal: Cheek region.

• Brachial: Arm region.

• Antecubital: Front of elbow.

• Antebrachial: Forearm region.

• Abdominal: Abdomen region.

• Umbilical: Navel region.

• Inguinal: Groin region.

• Scapular: Shoulder blade region.

• Patellar: Front of knee.

• Popliteal: Back of knee.

• Frontal: Forehead region.

• Occipital: Back of head.

• Sternal: Breastbone region.

• Digital: Fingers or toes.

• Carpal: Wrist region.

• Tarsal: Ankle region.

• Orbital: Eye socket region.

• Palmar: Palm of hand.

• Plantar: Sole of foot.

Nine Regions of the Abdomen

The abdomen is divided into nine regions to help localize organs and pain:

• Right hypochondriac

• Epigastric

• Left hypochondriac

• Right lumbar

• Umbilical

• Left lumbar

• Right iliac (inguinal)

• Hypogastric (pubic)

• Left iliac (inguinal)

Integumentary System

Skin Structure

The skin is the largest organ of the body and consists of two main layers:

• Epidermis: Outermost layer, provides protection.

• Dermis: Deeper layer, contains blood vessels, nerves, and glands.

• Sebaceous gland: Produces sebum (oil) to lubricate skin and hair.

• Sudoriferous gland: Sweat gland, involved in thermoregulation.

• Arrector pili muscle: Small muscle attached to hair follicle; causes "goosebumps" when contracted.

Nail Anatomy

• Eponychium: Cuticle; protects the area between the skin and the nail.

• Hyponychium: Skin under the free edge of the nail.

• Free edge: Part of the nail that extends beyond the finger or toe.

• Lunula: Crescent-shaped whitish area at the base of the nail.

Hair Structure

• Shaft: Visible part of the hair above the skin.

• Bulb: Enlarged base of the hair follicle where hair growth occurs.

• Root: Portion of hair below the skin surface.

• Follicle: Structure in the dermis from which hair grows.

Cells and Histology

Cell Organelles

Cells contain specialized structures called organelles, each with unique functions:

• Nucleus: Contains genetic material (DNA).

• Mitochondria: Site of ATP (energy) production.

• Endoplasmic reticulum (ER): Rough ER synthesizes proteins; smooth ER synthesizes lipids.

• Golgi apparatus: Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins.

• Lysosomes: Contain digestive enzymes.

• Ribosomes: Sites of protein synthesis.

• Plasma membrane: Controls entry and exit of substances.

Histology: Tissue Types

There are four basic tissue types in the body:

• Epithelial tissue: Covers surfaces and lines cavities.

• Connective tissue: Supports, binds, and protects organs.

• Muscle tissue: Responsible for movement.

• Nervous tissue: Transmits electrical impulses.

Epithelial Tissue Types

• Simple squamous: Single layer of flat cells; found in alveoli of lungs.

• Simple cuboidal: Single layer of cube-shaped cells; found in kidney tubules.

• Simple columnar: Single layer of tall, column-like cells; lines digestive tract.

• Stratified squamous: Multiple layers; protects against abrasion; found in skin, mouth.

• Transitional: Stretches; found in urinary bladder.

• Pseudostratified ciliated columnar: Appears layered but is not; lines respiratory tract.

Connective Tissue Types

• Areolar: Loose connective tissue; holds organs in place.

• Adipose: Stores fat.

• Dense regular: Parallel collagen fibers; found in tendons.

• Dense irregular: Irregularly arranged fibers; found in dermis.

• Hyaline cartilage: Smooth, glassy; found in nose, trachea.

• Osseous (bone): Rigid support.

• Blood: Fluid tissue; transports nutrients and gases.

Muscle Tissue Types

• Skeletal muscle: Voluntary, striated, attached to bones.

• Cardiac muscle: Involuntary, striated, found in heart.

• Smooth muscle: Involuntary, non-striated, found in walls of organs.

Nervous Tissue

• Neuron: Main cell type; transmits electrical signals.

Axial Skeleton

Skull Anatomy

The skull is composed of several bones, each with distinct features:

• Frontal bone: Forehead region; includes supraorbital foramen (above eye socket), glabella (smooth area between eyes).

• Parietal bone: Sides and roof of skull; sagittal suture (between parietals), coronal suture (frontal-parietal), lambdoid suture (parietal-occipital).

• Temporal bone: Sides of skull; squamous suture, external auditory meatus (ear canal), styloid process (needle-like), zygomatic process (cheekbone), mastoid process, mandibular fossa, jugular foramen.

• Occipital bone: Back of skull; lambdoid suture, foramen magnum (spinal cord passage), occipital condyle, external occipital protuberance (EOP).

• Sphenoid: Butterfly-shaped; greater/lesser wings, sella turcica (pituitary fossa), optic canal, foramen ovale.

• Ethmoid bone: Cribriform plates (olfactory foramina for smell).

• Mandible: Lower jaw; body, mandibular condyle, coronoid process, mental foramina, alveoli (tooth sockets), angle.

• Maxilla(e): Upper jaw; alveoli, intermaxillary suture, zygomatic process.

• Other bones: Zygomatic, palatine, lacrimal, nasal, vomer.

Vertebral Column

The vertebral column supports the body and protects the spinal cord. It is divided into regions:

• Cervical vertebrae: 7 (C1 = atlas, C2 = axis)

• Thoracic vertebrae: 12

• Lumbar vertebrae: 5

• Key features: Vertebral body, spinous process, transverse process, vertebral foramen, intervertebral foramen (IVF)

• Hyoid bone: U-shaped bone in neck, not attached to other bones.

Thoracic Cage

• Ribs: 12 pairs total

• True ribs: 7 pairs (directly attached to sternum)

• False ribs: 5 pairs (2 are floating, not attached to sternum)

• Key parts: Head, neck, angle, costal cartilage

• Sternum: Body, manubrium, xiphoid process

• Sacrum and coccyx: Base of vertebral column

Appendicular Skeleton

Upper Extremity

• Clavicle: Collarbone

• Scapula: Shoulder blade; acromion process, coracoid process, glenoid fossa, spine, supraspinous fossa, infraspinous fossa, subscapular fossa

• Humerus: Upper arm bone; head, greater/lesser tubercles, capitulum, trochlea, coronoid fossa, olecranon fossa

• Radius: Lateral forearm; head, neck, styloid process

• Ulna: Medial forearm; olecranon process, coronoid process, styloid process

• Carpals: 8 wrist bones

• Metacarpals: Palm bones

• Phalanges: Finger bones (distal, middle, proximal)

Lower Extremity

• Pelvis: Hip bones

• Ilium: ASIS (anterior superior iliac spine), PSIS (posterior superior iliac spine), iliac crest, greater sciatic notch

• Ischium: ischial spine, ischial tuberosity, lesser sciatic notch

• Pubis: pubic symphysis

• Obturator foramen, acetabulum

• Femur: head, neck, greater/lesser trochanters, medial/lateral condyles, medial/lateral epicondyles

• Patella: Kneecap

• Tibia: tibial tuberosity, lateral/medial condyles, medial malleolus

• Fibula: lateral malleolus, head

• Tarsals: 7 ankle bones; talus (dome), calcaneus (heel)

• Metatarsals: Foot bones

• Phalanges: Toe bones (distal, middle, proximal)

Summary Table: Major Tissue Types

Tissue Type	Main Function	Example Location
Epithelial	Protection, absorption, secretion	Skin, lining of GI tract
Connective	Support, binding, transport	Tendons, bone, blood
Muscle	Movement	Skeletal muscles, heart, digestive tract
Nervous	Communication, control	Brain, spinal cord, nerves

Additional info:

• For lab exams, be able to identify structures on images and models.

• Abbreviations for anatomical terms are commonly accepted in exams.

• Understanding the location and function of each structure is essential for both lab and lecture components.