RESEARCH AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT (RPMU)

HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

LABORATORY MANUAL
Students are expected to have read the module, identified the scope of the course, comprehend the
content of the course and identify the practical skills required in this course.

Before beginning the laboratory exercise, you must read this manual and understand the safety guidelines
you ought to obey.

Safety Guidelines:

As a responsible individual you must be aware of the importance of strict obedience of the rules and
regulations especially in a laboratory.

The following are the safety guidelines to be observed by all.

1. Make initial preparations before coming into a laboratory to conduct experiments. Comply with all oral
and written instructions. If in doubt, do not hesitate to forward your enquiries to the person in charge.

2. Never play or fool around in the laboratory. Concentrate on the task at hand at all times.

3. Report all accidents, wounds or damaged instruments immediately to the person in charge.

4. Dress appropriately. Avoid wearing loose fitting-clothes and jewellery. Pin or tie up long hair.

5. Wear or use recommended safety gears.

6. Use the apparatus carefully.

7. Do not conduct an experiment without supervision. Obtain permission from the instructor before
attempting something new.

8. Exercise caution when dealing with hot apparatus. Use a wet towel or tongs to move the hot apparatus
when contact is required.

9. In any case of equipment damage or accident, report immediately to the instructor. You must be aware
of potential dangers and how to manage such situations.

10. Ensure any electric circuit is wired up correctly with all safety precautions in place before activating
it.

11. Turn off the electric supply to an electric circuit before making any changes/modifications.

12. Return all used apparatus to its original positions in a clean and tidy state.

Assessment Guideline:

The assessment contributes 10% of the total assessment percentage for this course. The experiments are
to be conducted based on the instructions given for each session. Print and bring along the worksheet
before you attend the laboratory session. All worksheets must be verified by the demonstrator and
submitted by the end of the practical session.

RESEARCH AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT (RPMU

Subject Human Anatomy and Physiology

Code

Semester

Information on Students

Name of Student

Matric No

I/C No

Learning Centre (PPU)

Laboratory Session
Date

Venue

Time

Name of Demonstrator

List of Experiments

EXPERIMENT 1 Organelles in a Human Cell

EXPERIMENT 2 Anatomical Planes, Directions and Body Cavities EXPERIMENT 3

The Skin EXPERIMENT 4 The Skeletal System EXPERIMENT 5 The Reflex
EXPERIMENT 6 The Cardiovascular System
EXPERIMENT 1

Title: Organelles in a Human

Cell

Objective: The objective of this exercise is to identify the organelles present in a human cell,
characteristics and their functions.

Apparatus: Images of a
human cell

Procedure: Observe, draw and label the important features of the organelles present in the given diagram
in the boxes given below.

Results:
Questions: 1. Sort the organelles drawn into membranous and non-
membranous.

Membranous Non-membranous

2. State the methods in which substances are transported in- and out of a human cell.
3. Explain why the human blood cells do not have nucleus.

4. Name two ciliated cells found in the human body and state the roles of the cilia.
EXPERIMENT 2

Title: Anatomical Planes, Directions and Body

Cavities

Objective: The objective of this exercise is to identify the directional terms and body
cavities.

Apparatus: Images of human

body cavities Human skeleton
model

Procedure: Observe, draw and label the important anatomical planes, directions and body cavities in the
boxes given below.

Results:
Questions: 1. Explain the meaning of body
cavities.

2. Body cavities can be grouped into three major categories: coelomates, pseudocoelomate
and acoelomate. Explain the advantages of coelomate animals such as
humans.

3. Describe the following cavities in the human body;

i) dorsal cavity

ii) ventral cavity

iii) thoracic cavity

 iv) abdominopelvic cavity
EXPERIMENT 3

Title:
The Skin

Objective: The objective of this exercise is to identify the different components of skin and its
function.

Apparatus: Images of the

human skin

Procedure: Observe, draw and label the important components shown in the given image on the
following box.

Results:
Questions: 1. Complete the
following table.

Characteristics Epidermis Dermis Tissue Type

Presence of
blood vessels

Relative
thickness

Permeability

Relative
strength
2. Explain how hairs help to regulate body temperature.
EXPERIMENT 4

Title: The Skeletal

System

Objective: The objective of this exercise is to identify the bones in the skeletal system and distinguish
three classes of joints.

Apparatus: Human
skeletal model

Procedure: Observe, draw and label the bones and the joints (fibrous, cartilaginous and synovial joints)
of the human skeletal model in the following boxes.

Results:
Questions:

1. Determine the type of joints (fibrous, synovial or cartilaginous) for the following.

Terminologies Type of joints

Gliding joint

Freely movable

Suture

Synchondrosis

Saddle joint

Hinge joint

Symphysis

Mainly hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage

Ellipsoid joint
EXPERIMENT 5

Title: The Nerve

Reflexes

Objective: The objective of this exercise is to identify the types of nerve

reflexes.

Procedure: 1. You are required to work in pairs and observe your partner’s reflexes. 2. You are required
to conduct the following type of reflexes; the patellar reflex, the biceps reflex, the Achilles reflex, the
triceps reflex, the plantar reflex, the papillary reflex and the corneal reflex.
a. The patellar reflex
• Allow your partner to sit on a table with the legs dangling above the floor.
• Tap the knee with a reflex mallet at the kneecap.

b. The biceps reflex

• Allow your partner sit with the elbow flexed at about 90 0 and palm facing downward.
• Place your thumb on the biceps tendon at the inside angle of the elbow and press gently.
• Tap your thumb with a reflex mallet.

c. The Achilles reflex

• Ask your partner kneel on a chair, facing away from you, with the toes pointing toward
the floor.
• Tap the middle of the Achilles tendon with a reflex mallet.

d. The triceps reflex

• Ask your partner to lie down with an arm across the abdomen.
• Support your partner’s arm with the elbow flexed at 90 0 angle.
• Gently tap the posterior surface of the upper arm just proximal to the olecranon.

e. The plantar reflex

• Position your partner’s bare foot with the lateral surface resting on a table or chair.
• Sweep the handle of the mallet along the lateral region of the sole.

f. The corneal reflex

• Ask your partner to stand facing at a 900 angle to you.
• While your partner stares straight ahead, quickly move a clean, sterile cotton ball towards
the surface of one eye.
• Do not touch the eye during this process.
Results:

Reflex Result Discussion

Patellar o Normal
o Hyperflexia o
Hypoflexia o No
response

Biceps o Normal
o Hyperflexia o
Hypoflexia o No
response
Achilles o Normal
o Hyperflexia o
Hypoflexia o No
response

Triceps o Normal
o Hyperflexia o
Hypoflexia o No
response

Plantar o Normal
o Hyperflexia o
Hypoflexia o No
response

Corneal o Normal
o Hyperflexia o
Hypoflexia o No
response
Questions: 1. Explain the meaning of hyperflexia and
hypoflexia.

2. Give TWO survival advantages of having the corneal reflex.

3. Name TWO diseases associated with the nervous system.

4. Describe the symptoms of gout and how we can reduce gout attack.
EXPERIMENT 6
 Title: The Cardiovascular System: Measurement of the Heart Rate

Objective: The objective of this exercise is to measure the cardiovascular system after undergoing the
queen’s college step test.

Apparatus: Stop watch, bench or steps between 14-16 inches

high.

Procedure: 1. Before starting the test, provide all subjects with some sample time to practice
measuring the pulse rate by palpating the carotid artery for 15 seconds intervals. 2. The subject should
work with a partner to count the pulse rate. Since the test cadence is different for males and females, pair
a male with a female, then you can test the males as a group and the females as a group. 3. Demonstrate
the test. Allow the subjects a brief practice period (15-20 seconds) to learn
the cadence. After the practise period, permit the subjects to rest. 4. To perform the test, all subjects will
need to step up and down the bench for 3 minutes. 5. The cadence for males 24 steps/minute and the
cadence for female is 22 steps/minute. 6. At the end of the 3 minutes, the subjects will remain standing
while their partners count their pulse rate for 15 seconds, beginning 5 seconds after the completion of the
test. (pulse count should be completed 20 seconds after the subject has completed the test) 7. To keep a
proper rhythm or cadence, the tester will say through the commands “up, up, down, down”. The
instructions and commands must be standardized so that results can be compared accurately. 8. This test
is conducted on as many subjects as possible. The students can take turns as
a tester and then as a subject.

Scoring Method: 1. Multiply the 15-second pulse rate by four to obtain the subject’s score in
beat/minute. 2. Katch and McArdle also developed regression equations to predict VO 2 max from heart
rate per minute. They are included in Table 1.0. 3. Results of the test will show whether the subjects fall in
the Superior, Good, Poor, etc.
categories. It is a test for Stamina or Cardiovascular Endurance.

Table 1.0: Norms for the Queens College Step Test for College Students.
Percentile Male Female

Heart Rate VO2 max Heart Rate VO2 max 95 Superior 124 59.3 140
40.0 75 Excellent 144 50.9 158 36.6 50 Good 156 45.8 166 35.1 25 Fair 168 40.8
176 33.3 05 Poor 184 34.2 196 29.6

Equations for predicting VO 2 max Males: VO2 max (ml/kg/min) = 111.33 –

0.42 (pulse rate: beats/min) Females: VO2 max (ml/kg/min) = 65.81 –

0.1847 (pulse rate: beats/min)

Validity Using VO2 max as the criterion, correlation coefficients of -0.75 and -0.72 were found

for college age women and men, respectively.

Reliability Coefficients of 0.92 and 0.89 were found for college age women and men, respectively.
Results:
Questions:

1. Explain on the cardiovascular system?

2. Why do we need to monitor our heart rate?

3. Describe on the cardiovascular disease?

4. List Five activity to improve cardiovascular fitness?

APPENDICES – If relevant

[Relevant Equipment and Techniques to described in Appendix]