EXS 212 Lab 1 – Review: Anatomical Terminology, Organ

Systems, Excitable Cells

Purpose
To review anatomical terminology, organ systems, and excitable cells.

Outline
I. Anatomical Terminology
A. Anatomical Position
B. Directional Terms
C. Body Planes and Sections
II. Organ Systems
A. Organ System Overview
B. Body Cavities
III. Excitable Cells

Objectives
1. Describe the anatomical position.
2. Define various directional terms.
3. Identify planes and sections.
4. Name the organ systems, the organs they include, and their functions.
5. List the body cavities and the organs they contain
6. Explain the mechanisms by which electrical impulses are transmitted from one cell to
another.

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I. Anatomical Terminology

A. Anatomical Position

Activity 1: Anatomical Position

 Draw a picture of a person in anatomical position and list the key criteria for being in
anatomical position. Consider thumb position in your drawing (supination/pronation).

 Why is an understanding of anatomical position important?

B. Directional Terms
Directional terms are used to locate body structures in relation to one another when the subject is
in anatomical position.

Activity 2: Directional Terms

 Use each of the following pairs of directional terms in a sentence.
 Example: The heart is superior to the diaphragm.

Superior (Cranial)

Inferior (Caudal)

Note: Superior and inferior are used for structures on the head, neck, or trunk.

Anterior (Ventral)

Posterior (Dorsal)

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Medial

Lateral

Proximal

Distal

Note: Proximal and distal are used for structures on the upper and lower extremities.

Superficial

Deep

Ipsilateral

Contralateral

C. Body Planes and Sections

Activity 3: Body Planes and Sections
Describe the following planes, and then relate each to sections of organs, tissues, or cells on a
microscope slide:

 Sagittal

 Frontal

 Transverse/Horizontal

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II. Organ Systems

A. Organ Systems Overview

The human body consists of eleven organ systems that work together to maintain homeostasis.

Activity 4: Identification of Organ Systems

Use your textbook to help you identify the organ systems in the figure below and to state their
functions.

1. Organ system:

Major function(s):

2. Organ system:

Major function(s):

3. Organ system:

Major function(s):

4. Organ system:

Major function(s):

5. Organ system:

Major function(s):

6. Organ system:

Major function(s):

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7. Organ system:

Major function(s):

8. Organ system:

Major function(s):

9. Organ system:

Major function(s):

10. Organ system:

Major function(s):

11. Organ system:

Major function(s):

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B. Body Cavities
Most of the organs of the body are contained within body cavities, where they are protected and
supported. The body cavities are separated from one another by structures such as bones,
muscles, and ligaments.

Activity 5: Body Cavities

 Label the body cavities on the figures, and list the organs that are found in each body cavity.

Dorsal Body Cavity Ventral Body Cavity

 Cranial cavity  Thoracic cavity
 Vertebral cavity o Pleural Cavity
o Mediastinum
 Pericardial cavity
 Abdominopelvic cavity
o Abdominal cavity
o Pelvic cavity

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III. Excitable Cells
In EXS 207, Anatomy & Physiology I, we discuss the activation and propagation (transmission)
of electrical impulses in nervous and muscle cells. This semester we will be discussing organ
systems that will require that you have a basic understanding of the nature of electrical impulse
transmission.

Activity 6: Neuron Physiology

Spend a few minutes reviewing/discussing the nature of an action potential and then answer the
questions below. Talk to your fellow students and refer to your text. Important terms are bolded
and italicized.

1. What does it mean when we say that neurons are excitable?

2. What is resting membrane potential (RMP)? What is a normal value for RMP? What
are the units?

3. What ions are actively pumped into and out of the cell in order to maintain RMP? In
which direction are they pumped?

4. What effect does a stimulus have on RMP? What happens if the stimulus is strong
enough that threshold is reached? What is the value of threshold? What are the units?

5. Use arrows to match each of the following to the appropriate definition:

_____ Action potential a. Period of depolarization of the neuron

_____ Absolute refractory period
_____ Repolarization
_____ Relative refractory period
membrane during which it cannot
respond to a second stimulus.
b. Reversal of the resting membrane
potential due to an influx of sodium ions.
c. Period during which potassium ions
diffuse out of the neuron because of a
change in membrane permeability.
d. Period during which an especially strong
stimulus is required to generate another
action potential.

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Activity 7: The Neuromuscular Junction
Spend a few minutes reviewing/discussing the nature of communication between motor neurons
and muscle cells, and then complete the explanation of events and structures at the
neuromuscular junction using one of the bolded and italicized important terms listed below.
Talk to your fellow students and refer to your text.

Important terms:

Depolarization Synaptic cleft Motor unit

Acetylcholine (Ach) Action potential Neuromuscular junction

The junction between a motor neuron’s axon and the muscle cell membrane is called a
_________________________.

A motor neuron and all of the skeletal muscle cells it stimulates is called a
_________________________.

The actual gap between the axon terminal and the muscle cell is called a
_________________________.

Within the axon terminal are many small vesicles containing a neurotransmitter substance called
_________________________.

When the _________________________ reaches the ends of the axons, the neurotransmitter is
released and diffuses to the muscle cell membrane to combine with receptors there.

The combining of the neurotransmitter with the muscle cell membrane receptors causes the
membrane to become permeable to both sodium and potassium. The greater influx of sodium
ions results in _________________________ of the membrane.

Propagation of this impulse along the muscle membrane and down transverse tubules causes the
release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and contraction of the muscle cell occurs.

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 Review Questions
Directional Terms
Complete the sentences using directional terms. Use a skeleton for reference.

1. The clavicle is ____________________ to the ribs.

2. The ribs are ____________________ to the sternum.

3. The humerus is ____________________ to the radius.

4. The ulna is ____________________ to the radius.

5. The tibia is ____________________ to the femur.

6. The right humerus and right radius are ____________________.

7. The pelvis is ____________________ to the ribs.

8. The sternum is ____________________ to the vertebral column.

9. The scapula is ____________________ to the clavicle.

10. The right fibula and the left fibula are ____________________.

Organ Systems
Identify the organ system described below.

____________________ 1. Includes spleen, lymphatic vessels, and lymph nodes

____________________ 2. Allows for movement by creating mechanical force

____________________ 3. Transports oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide, and waste

products

____________________ 4. Controls muscles and glands via action potentials

____________________ 5. Forms the external body covering

____________________ 6. Breaks down and absorbs food

____________________ 7. Includes the thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands

____________________ 8. Provides a framework for the body and protects body

organs

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____________________ 9. Includes the trachea and lungs

____________________ 10. Produces gametes

____________________ 11. Regulates composition of the blood by eliminating

nitrogenous waste, excess water, and excess ions

Body Cavities
Identify the body cavity in which each of the following organs is contained. Be as specific as
possible.

____________________ 1. Kidney

____________________ 2. Brain

____________________ 3. Stomach

____________________ 4. Urinary bladder

____________________ 5. Spinal cord

____________________ 6. Small intestine

____________________ 7. Heart

____________________ 8. Uterus

____________________ 9. Lungs

____________________ 10. Liver

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