Anatomy & Physiology I: Lab Study Guide (Weeks 1–6)

Introduction

This study guide summarizes the key topics, anatomical terms, and laboratory skills covered in the first six weeks of a college-level Anatomy & Physiology I course. It is organized by week and lab exercise, providing definitions, examples, and essential structures for identification and understanding.

Week 1: Anatomical Terminology and Organ Systems

Anatomical Terminology

• Surface Anatomy Terms: Terms used to describe locations on the body (e.g., cephalic for head, axillary for armpit).

• Anatomical Position: The standard reference position for the body in the study of anatomy. The body is erect, facing forward, arms at sides with palms facing forward.

• Body Planes and Sections:

  • Frontal (coronal) plane: Divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.

  • Sagittal plane: Divides the body into right and left parts.

  • Transverse plane: Divides the body into superior and inferior parts.

  • Oblique plane: Passes through the body at an angle.

• Orientation/Direction Terms: Used to describe the location of one body part relative to another (e.g., superior/inferior, medial/lateral, proximal/distal, superficial/deep).

• Body Cavities:

  • Dorsal cavity: Contains the cranial and vertebral cavities.

  • Ventral cavity: Contains the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

  • Thoracic cavity: Contains the heart and lungs.

  • Abdominopelvic cavity: Contains digestive, urinary, and reproductive organs.

• Abdominopelvic Quadrants and Regions:

  • Quadrants: Right upper, left upper, right lower, left lower.

  • Regions: Right/left hypochondriac, epigastric, right/left lumbar, umbilical, right/left iliac (inguinal), hypogastric (pubic).

Organ Systems Overview

• Major Organ Systems: Integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive.

• Major Organs: For example, the heart (cardiovascular), lungs (respiratory), stomach (digestive), kidneys (urinary), etc.

Specimen and Model Identification

• Identify organs such as thymus, heart, lungs, trachea, esophagus, diaphragm, liver, gallbladder, stomach, intestines, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and major blood vessels on models and specimens.

Week 2: Microscopy and Cell Structure

The Microscope

• Parts of the Microscope: Eyepiece, objective lenses, stage, coarse/fine focus, light source, etc.

• Functions: Each part's role in magnification and focusing.

• Microscope Calculations:

  • Total Magnification: $\text{Total Magnification} = \text{Objective Magnification} \times \text{Ocular Magnification}$

  • Working Distance: Distance between the objective lens and the specimen.

  • Field Size: The diameter of the area visible through the microscope.

  • Object Size: Can be estimated using field size and proportion.

Cell Structure

• Identify structures on a cell model: plasma membrane, ribosome, Golgi apparatus, smooth/rough ER, mitochondrion, lysosome, centrioles, vacuole, nucleus, nucleolus, chromatin, nuclear envelope.

Mitosis

• Identify stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase.

Classification of Epithelial Tissues

• Simple squamous, cuboidal, columnar; pseudostratified columnar; stratified squamous; transitional epithelium.

Week 3: Connective Tissues and Integumentary System

Connective Tissues

• Areolar, adipose, dense regular (white fibrous), bone, blood, fibrocartilage, hyaline cartilage.

The Integumentary System

• Identify structures: epidermis, dermis, hair shaft/root/follicle, sebaceous gland, arrector pili muscle, sweat glands, dermal papillae, tactile (Meissner's) and lamellar (Pacinian) corpuscles, veins, arteries, lymph vessels, adipose tissue.

• Epidermal Layers: Stratum corneum, lucidum, granulosum, spinosum, basale.

• Microscope slides: skin with hair, epidermis, dermis, hair follicle, sebaceous gland, tactile and lamellar corpuscles.

Overview of the Skeleton: Cartilage and Bone

• Types of cartilage: hyaline, fibrocartilage, elastic; locations in the body.

Week 4: Axial Skeleton and Landmarks

Cranial and Facial Bones

• Identify bones and key landmarks (e.g., frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, sphenoid, ethmoid, mandible, maxilla, zygomatic, nasal, vomer, inferior nasal concha).

• Landmarks include sutures, foramina, processes, fossae, canals, and sinuses.

Vertebral Column

• Cervical (atlas, axis), thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, coccyx; key features: transverse/spinous processes, vertebral foramen, body, dens.

Thoracic Cage

• Sternum (manubrium, body, xiphoid), ribs (true, false, floating).

Week 5: Appendicular Skeleton

Shoulder (Pectoral) Girdle

• Clavicle, scapula; landmarks: spine, acromion, coracoid process, glenoid cavity.

Arm and Forearm

• Humerus (head, tubercles, epicondyles, fossa), ulna (olecranon, trochlear notch, styloid process), radius (radial notch, tuberosity, styloid process).

Hand

• Carpals (scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform, trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate), metacarpals, phalanges.

Pelvic Girdle

• Coxal bone (ilium, ischium, pubis); landmarks: acetabulum, obturator foramen, auricular surface, iliac crest, pubic symphysis, sacroiliac joint, anterior superior iliac spine.

• Differentiate male vs. female pelvis.

Thigh, Leg, Ankle, and Foot

• Femur (head, neck, trochanters, condyles, epicondyles, linea aspera), tibia (tuberosity, condyles, malleolus), fibula (lateral malleolus), tarsals (talus, calcaneus, navicular, cuneiforms, cuboid), metatarsals, phalanges.

Week 6: Articulations and Body Movements

Classification of Joints

• Fibrous Joints: Joined by fibrous tissue, no joint cavity (e.g., suture, syndesmosis, gomphosis).

• Cartilaginous Joints: Joined by cartilage, no joint cavity (e.g., symphysis, synchondrosis).

• Synovial Joints: Freely movable, joint cavity present; types include:

  • Hinge (elbow)

  • Pivot (atlantoaxial)

  • Condyloid (radiocarpal)

  • Ball and socket (shoulder, hip)

  • Saddle (1st metacarpal and trapezium)

Body Movements

• Movements at synovial joints: flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, rotation, circumduction, etc.

Sample Table: Types of Synovial Joints

Joint Type	Example	Movement
Hinge	Elbow	Flexion/Extension
Pivot	Atlantoaxial joint	Rotation
Ball and Socket	Shoulder, Hip	Multiaxial movement
Saddle	1st metacarpal and trapezium	Biaxial movement

Conclusion

This guide provides a structured overview of the foundational topics in Anatomy & Physiology I lab, including anatomical terminology, organ systems, microscopy, tissues, skeletal system, and joints. Mastery of these concepts is essential for success in laboratory practicals and further study in the biological sciences.