Anatomy & Physiology Lab Study Guide: Blood, Heart, Endocrine, and Respiratory Systems

Lab Activities and Models Overview

This study guide summarizes key laboratory activities, anatomical models, preserved materials, and microscope slides relevant to the study of the blood, heart, endocrine, and respiratory systems in a college-level Anatomy & Physiology course.

Activities

• Blood Typing

  • Be able to identify a blood type based on typing tray results.

  • Identify antigens and antibodies in a given blood type.

  • Identify donors and recipients when given specific blood types.

• Respiratory Volumes

  • Understand and measure different respiratory volumes using appropriate models or equipment.

Models

• Endocrine System Flat Model

• 36 Organs of Thoracic Cavity Model (on White Board)

• Circulatory System Flat Model

• Full Body Circulatory System (on White Board)

• Human Heart on Wooden Stand

• Respiratory System Flat Model

• Blood Vessels Specified on Muscle Models

• 3B Larynx and Trachea Flat Model

These models are used to visualize and identify anatomical structures and their relationships within the human body.

Preserved Materials – Sheep Heart

The sheep heart is used to study the anatomy of the mammalian heart, which closely resembles the human heart in structure and function.

• Structures to Identify:

  • Left atrium, right atrium

  • Left ventricle, right ventricle

  • Pulmonary trunk, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava

  • Aortic semilunar valve, pulmonary semilunar valve

  • Tricuspid valve, mitral (bicuspid) valve

  • Chordae tendineae, papillary muscles

  • Interventricular septum, coronary sulcus, apex

  • Pulmonary veins, coronary arteries

Note: You may also be asked questions concerning the order of blood flow through the heart.

Order of Blood Flow Through the Heart

1. Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium via the superior and inferior vena cava.

2. Passes through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle.

3. Pumped through the pulmonary semilunar valve into the pulmonary trunk and arteries to the lungs.

4. Oxygenated blood returns via pulmonary veins to the left atrium.

5. Passes through the mitral (bicuspid) valve into the left ventricle.

6. Pumped through the aortic semilunar valve into the aorta and systemic circulation.

Microscope Slides

• Pituitary Gland:

  • Adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary)

  • Neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary)

• Thyroid Gland:

  • Simple cuboidal epithelium

  • Parafollicular cells (C cells)

  • Colloid

  • Thyroid follicles

• Pancreas:

  • Pancreatic islet

  • Pancreatic acinus

  • Pancreatic duct

• Adrenal Glands:

  • Adrenal cortex (zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, zona reticularis)

  • Adrenal medulla

• Human Blood Smear:

  • Erythrocytes (red blood cells)

  • Thrombocytes (platelets)

  • Neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils (types of white blood cells)

• Human Artery and Vein:

  • Artery: tunica externa, tunica interna, tunica media

  • Vein: tunica externa, tunica media, tunica interna

Key Terms and Definitions

• Antigen: A molecule capable of inducing an immune response, often found on the surface of red blood cells.

• Antibody: A protein produced by the immune system that binds to specific antigens.

• Blood Typing: The laboratory process of determining a person's blood group based on the presence or absence of specific antigens on red blood cells.

• Respiratory Volumes: Measurements of air volume in the lungs during different phases of the respiratory cycle (e.g., tidal volume, vital capacity).

• Endocrine Gland: A gland that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream.

• Valve: A structure in the heart that ensures unidirectional blood flow.

Example Table: Blood Cell Types and Functions

Cell Type	Function
Erythrocyte	Transports oxygen and carbon dioxide
Thrombocyte (Platelet)	Blood clotting
Neutrophil	Phagocytosis of bacteria
Lymphocyte	Immune response (B and T cells)
Monocyte	Phagocytosis; becomes macrophage in tissues
Eosinophil	Defense against parasites; modulates allergic responses
Basophil	Releases histamine; involved in inflammation

Additional Info

• Blood Typing Equations: The presence of antigens A and/or B on red blood cells determines the ABO blood group. The presence of Rh antigen determines positive or negative type.

• Respiratory Volumes Equations:

  • Tidal Volume (TV): $TV = \text{Volume of air inhaled or exhaled in a normal breath}$

  • Vital Capacity (VC): $VC = TV + IRV + ERV$

  • Where IRV = Inspiratory Reserve Volume, ERV = Expiratory Reserve Volume