Science Resource Learning Center

BIOLOGY 202 LAB TERMS TO KNOW – FIRST PRACTICAL EXAM

Lecture BookText pages referenced for the 10th edition of Marieb, Hoehn, Human Anatomy &
Physiology ISBN-13: 9780321927040.

Cuts and positions

 Anatomical position (p. 12, Figure 1.7 )
o The subject is standing erect, facing the observer,
with legs together and feet slightly apart, arms at the sides, and palms forward with the thumb
away from the body
o To describe the body parts and position accurately to another medical professional, you
need an initial reference point and must indicate direction
o The anatomical reference point is a standard body position called the anatomical position

Directional terms
 Directional terms (p. 13,Table 1.1)
o Allows us to describe the locations of structures in relation to other structures or locations
in the body
o These terms often have a counterpart with converse or opposite meaning
 Superior (p.13,Table 1.1)
o towards the head or upper part of a structure or the body; above (this term is mainly used in
the torso region)
 Inferior (p. 13,Table 1.1)
o away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below (this term is
mainly used in the torso region)
 Ventral (anterior) – this term is only used interchangeably in humans (p.13,Table 1.1)
o towards the front of the body, organ, or section of the body
 Dorsal (posterior) - this term is only used interchangeably in humans (p.13,Table 1.1)
o towards the back of the body, organ, or section of the body
 Medial (p.13,Table 1.1)
o towards the middle of the body, organ, or section of the body
 Lateral (p.13,Table 1.1)
o towards the side of the body, organ, or section of the body
o Ipsilateral
 on the same side of the body
 gallbladder and ascending colon
o Contralateral
 opposite sides of the midline
 ascending and descending colon
 Proximal (p.13,Table 1.1)
o closest to the point of attachment
 the wrist is proximal to the fingers
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  Distal (p. 31,Table 1.1)
o away from the point of attachment
 the fingers are distal to the wrist
 Deep (internal) (p.13,Table 1.1)
o towards the internal portion of the body
 organs are deep to the skin
 Superficial (external) (p.13,Table 1.1)
o away from the internal portion of the body
 skin is superficial to the organs
 Parietal (p. 18, Fig. 1.9)
o the part of the membrane lining the wall of the cavity
 Visceral (p. 18, Fig. 1.9)
o the membrane which covers the organs in the cavity

Planes - (p. 16, Fig. 1.8)

 Sagittal plane
o This vertical (up and down) plane divides the body, organ, or section of the body into right and
left sections
o Median or Midsagittal plane
 this vertical (up and down) plane divides the body, organ, or section of the body into
equal right and left sections
o Parasagittal plane
 this vertical (up and down) plane divides the body, organ, or section of the body into
unequal right and left sections
 Frontal or Coronal plane
o this vertical (up and down) plane divides the body, organ, or section of the body into anterior
and posterior portions
 Transverse (cross section) or Horizontal plane
o this plane divides the body, organ, or section of the body into superior and inferior portions

Body cavities - (pp. 17-18, Fig. 1.9)

 Dorsal body cavity
o is subdivided into a cranial cavity and a vertebral or spinal cavity
o Cranial cavity
 contains the brain and its associated membranes,
o Vertebral canal or Spinal cavity
 which contains the spinal cord and its associated membranes
 Ventral body cavity
o Subdivided into a thoracic cavity which is superior (above) to the diaphragm and an
abdominopelvic cavity which is inferior (below) to the diaphragm
o Each of these major subdivisions of the ventral cavity can be further subdivided
o Thoracic cavity
 Pleural cavity
 this area contains the lungs
 there are two pleural cavities, which contain the right and left lung
 Mediastinum
 this space between the two pleural cavities
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 
it contains the pericardial cavity and other structures (heart, major blood vessels,
esophagus, the trachea and bronchi, and the thymus gland)
 Pericardial cavity
 this cavity contains the heart
o Abdominopelvic cavity
 Abdominal cavity
 this space contains the abdominal organs (stomach, intestine, spleen, liver, etc.
 Pelvis cavity
 space that contains the organs (urinary bladder, some reproductive organs, and the
rectum) of the pelvic region

Abdominopelvic Regions and Quardrants- (p.19, Fig. 1.11, Fig. 1.2)

 Epigastric region
o this region is located superior to the umbilical and lumbar regions
 Right hypochondriac region
o this region is located laterally to the Epigastric region (remember your anatomical right)
o Gallstones may be a result of pain in this region
 Left hypochondriac region
o this region is located laterally to the Epigastric region (remember your anatomical left)
 Umbilical
o this region is the centermost region
 Right lumbar region
o this region is located laterally to the umbilical region (remember your anatomical right)
 Left lumber
o this region is located laterally to the umbilical region (remember your anatomical left)
 Hypogastric (pubic) region
o is located inferiorly to the umbilical region
 Right iliac or inguinal region
o is located laterally to the hypogastric region
(remember your anatomical right)
o Appendicitis or Ectopic Pregnancy may be a result of pain in this region
 Left iliac or inguinal region
o is located laterally to the hypogastric region
(remember your anatomical left)

Quadrants - (p. 19, Fig.1.11 )

 RUQ
o right upper quadrant
 RLQ
o right lower quadrant
 LUQ
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 o left upper quadrant

 LLQ
o left lower quadrant

Membranes - (p.18, Fig. 9a, Fig. 10)

 Body membranes are thin sheets of tissue that cover the body, line body
cavities, and cover organs within the cavities in hollow organs.
 They can be categorized into epithelial and connective tissue membrane.

 Parietal membrane
o this serous membrane lines the cavity walls
 Visceral membrane
o this serous membrane covers the organs in the cavity
 Parietal pleura
o this serous membrane lines the walls of the thoracic cavity
 Visceral pleura
o this serous membrane covers the lungs
 Parietal pericardial
o lines the pericardial cavity
 Visceral pericardial
o the parietal pericardium reflects back and covers the heart
 Parietal peritoneum
o is associated with the walls of the abdominopelvic cavity
 Visceral peritoneum
o covers most of the organs within the abdominopelvic cavity

Microscope
 Ocular (eyepiece)
o usually a 10 power (l0X) lens containing a pointer which can be used to
designate a particular location in the field of view.
 Body tube
o A tube, quite long in some microscopes, which forms the main body of the microscope; the ocular
is at the top of the body tube, and a nosepiece or containing several objectives is at the bottom of
the tube.
 Coarse adjustment
o A knob which raises and lowers the body tube to bring the specimen on the slide into focus.
 Fine adjustment
o A knob to be used for fine adjustment (focusing) after using the coarse adjustment.
 Objectives
o There are usually four objective lenses, but some nosepieces have fewer; they are a 4X scanning
lens, a 10X low power, a 40X-45X high power, and a 100X oil immersion. On many
microscopes, the objectives are identified by color bands: green for low power, yellow for high
power, and red for oil immersion.
 Nosepiece
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 o A turret that holds the objectives and allows them to pivot into position as needed.
 Spring clips or Mechanical slide holder
o These hold the glass slide in position on the stage.

 Stage
o A platform on which the slide is placed.
 Diaphragm
o Regulates the size of the light opening in the stage, thus regulating the amount of light passing
through the specimen. Proper control of the amount of light is nearly as important as proper
focusing for viewing the specimen.
 Illuminator
o A sub-stage light or mirror is enclosed in the base of some microscopes. If the light source is not
sufficient, the full capabilities of a microscope cannot be realized. Turn this light off when not
in use; the switch usually lies behind the light.
 Arm
o The main supportive structure of the microscope, and the only part except the base by which the
instrument should be carried.
 Base
o The supportive bottom of the instrument that holds the light source.
 Condenser
o A lens system locked into the light opening of the stage of many microscopes (not present on all)
o The condenser focuses or concentrates the light from the illuminator on the specimen
o The condenser can be adjusted to a higher or lower position by a substage adjustment knob but
for most purposes, the condenser should be fully raised
o If a pattern appears in the field of view, you lower the condenser until the pattern disappears

Tissue types
 Epithelial Tissue - (pp. 116-121, Fig. 4.1, Fig. 4.2, Fig. 4.3)
o Simple
o Stratified
o Pseudostratified
 Connective Tissue - (pp. 129, 136, Fig. 4.8)
o Loose
o Dense
o Cartilage
o Bone
o Blood
 Muscle Tissue - (pp.137-139, Fig. 4.9)
o Cardiac
o Smooth
o Skeletal
 Nervous Tissue - (p. 139, Fig. 4.10)
Epithelial tissue - (pp. 117-125, Fig. 4.2, Fig. 4.3)
 Cellularity
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 o Composed almost entirely of cells
 Special contacts
o Form continuous sheets held together by tight junctions and desmosomes
 Polarity
o Apical and basal surfaces

 Supported by connective tissue

o Reticular and basal laminae
 Avascular but innervated
o Contains no blood vessels but supplied by nerve fibers
 Regenerative
o Rapidly replaces lost cells by cell division
 Classified by presence of layers and shapes
o Classification by layers
 Simple
 One layer
 Stratified
 Many layers
 Pseudostratified
 Single layer
 Appears multilayered
 Simple squamous
o Location
 blood vessels, lining the heart (visceral pericardium), air sacs of the lung, kidney
(Bowman’s capsule)
o Function
 Diffusion and transport of substances through membranes, secretion of lubricating
substances in the serosae
o Special features
 flat single layered cells, square to octagonal shape, central nucleus
 Simple cuboidal
o Location
 kidney tubules, ovary, ducts and secretory portions of small glands
o Function
 secretion and absorption
o Special features
 single layered, cube shaped, central nucleus
 Simple columnar
o Location
 gastrointestinal (GI) tract
o Function
 secretion “mucus” and absorption “nutrients”
o Special features
 column shaped, goblet cells, microvilli
 Pseudostratified ciliated columnar
o Location
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  upper respiratory tract (trachea, nasal cavity, etc.) and male urethra
o Function
 secretion of mucus and movement by cilary action
o Special features
 cilia and scattered nuclei
 Stratified squamous
o Location
 skin, vagina, mouth, esophagus, anal canal
o Function
 Protection
o Special features
 layers of cells and dark basement membrane
 Transitional
o Location
 urinary tract (urethra, ureter, urinary bladder)
o Function
 Stretching to allow filling of urinary tract and distension
o Special features
 dome shaped cells with centralized nuclei

Structural Elements of Connective Tissue - (pp. 127-136, Fig. 4.7, Fig. 4.8)
 Cells
o Fibroblasts, chondroblasts, osteoblasts, and hematopoietic stem cells
 Matrix
o Ground substance
o Unstructured material that fills the space between cells
 Fibers
o Collagen, elastic, or reticular

Connective Tissue Cells

 Fibroblasts
o Collagen and elastin
 Chondroblasts
o Cartilage
 Osteoblasts
o Bone
 Hematopoietic stem cells
o Blood
o White blood cells, plasma cells, macrophages, and mast cells

Connective Tissue Fibers

 Collagen
o Tough and flexible and resists stretching which provide high tensile
strength
 Elastic
o Long, thin fibers that allow for stretch
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  Reticular
o Branched collagenous fibers coated with glycoprotein that form delicate sponge like
framework
Loose connective tissue
 Areolar
o Location
 Distributed under epithelial
 Surrounds blood vessel and nerves
o Function
 Wraps and cushions organs
o Special features
 scattered fibers
 Reticular
o Location
 spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes
o Function
 frame work (stroma) of various organs
o Special features
 reticular fibers and blood cells
 Adipose
o Location
 around the heart and kidney, under the skin, posterior portion of the eye, breast
o Function
 energy storage, thermal regulation, support and protects organs
o Special features
 adipocytes
 Dense regular
o Location
 tendons (attach muscle to bone) and ligaments (attach
bone to bone)
o Function
 strong attachment
o Special features
 collagen fibers in waves
 Dense irregular
o Location
 dermis of the skin
o Function
 strength and withstands tension
o Special features
 collagen fibers in irregular waves
 Elastic connective
o Location
 elastic artery walls and lung
o Function
 Elasticity and expansion
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 o Special features
 scattered elastic fibers in waves
 Hyaline cartilage
o Location
 trachea, ends of long bones, tip of the nose
o Function
 supports, cushioning, and resists stress
o Special features
 a vast number of chondrocytes in lacuna, collagen
 Elastic Cartilage
o Location
 external ear (pinna) and epiglottis
o Function
 shape and structure
o Special features
 vast number of elastic fibers
 Fibrocartilage
o Location
 intervertebral disc, pubic symphysis, discs of knee joint
o Function
 strength and absorbs shock
o Special features
 thick collagen fibers
 Bone
o Location
 skeletal system (bones)
o Function
 protection, support, blood production
o Special features
 osteons (haversion systems)
 Blood
o Location
 blood vessels and heart
o Function
 protection, regulation, transportation
o Special features
 red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), plasma
Muscle Tissue - (pp. 137-139, Fig. 4.9)
 Skeletal Muscle
o Location
 skeletal system (gross muscles)
o Function
 voluntary movement and generate heat
o Special features
 striations and cylindrical fibers
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  Cardiac Muscle
o Location
 heart wall
o Function
 Pumps blood through involuntary control
o Special features
 striations, centralized nuclei, and branches
 Smooth Muscle
o Location
 Hallow organs, blood vessels, and gastrointestinal tract
o Function
 involuntary propulsion (movement) of substances
o Special features
 non-striated fibers with centralized nuclei
Nervous Tissue - (p. 139, Fig. 4.10)
 Neuron
o Location
 central and peripheral nervous system
o Function
 action potential and nerve impulse for internal communication
o Special features
 dendrites, axon, cell body (soma)
Skin - (pp. 150-162, Fig. 5.1, Fig. 5.2, Fig. 5.3)
 Epidermis
o Stratum corneum (Horny layer)
 keratin
 20-30 cell layers thick
 top layer of dead cells
 protection (resists abrasions and penetration) and eliminates water
o Stratum lucidum (Clear layer)
 visible in the palms of our hands and soles of our feet (thick skin layers)
o Stratum granulosum (Granular layer)
 3-5 layers of flattened dying keratinocytes
 membrane coating vesicles that release a lipid mixture functioning in waterproofing
o Stratum spinosum (Prickly layer)
 contain keratinocytes and Langerhans’ cells
 among the keratinocytes are melanin granules
o Stratum basale (Basal layer) or stratum germinativum
 continually dividing cells (mitosis)
 Dermis
o Papillary layer
 contains dermal papillae
 form our fingerprints
o Reticular
 Stretch-recoil properties
 However, it does not have recoil properties after delivery (childbirth) or rigorous diets

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 Accessory structures of the Skin
o Tactile (Meissner) corpuscles - (p.153, Fig. 5.26)
 in dermal papillae
 receptors for light touch and texture
o Free nerve endings - (p. 151, Fig. 5.1)
 in dermal papillae
 pain receptors
o Hair shaft
 part of the hair that is above the skin
o Hair root
 part of the hair buried in the follicle under the skin
o Hair bulb
 this area is expanded resembling a bulb
 a knot of sensory nerve endings
o Hair follicle
 fold down from the epidermis into the dermis and in some areas into the hypodermis
 at the base of the follicle is the hair papilla
o Hair papilla
 The papilla contains a knot of capillaries which supplies nutrients the growing hair and
signals it to grow
o Arrector pili muscle
 a bundle of smooth muscle cells
 produces goose bumps (raiser of hair)
o Sebaceous (oil) glands
 secrete an oily substance called sebum
o Sweat (sudoriferous) glands
 two types eccrine and apocrine
 eccrine the most abundant
 eccrine secretes a hypotonic filtrate (sweat) of the blood

 Hypodermis (not part of the skin, but shares some of the skins protective properties)
o Anchors skin to the underlying structures (mostly muscles)
 subcutaneous tissue mostly composed of adipose cells
o Lamellar (Pacinian) corpuscles
 deep pressure

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