Biology 2404    Human A&P Basics        Lab Exercise 2       Body Orientation    Dr. Weis

Objectives Background Medical Terms Activities Applications Careers WWW Review Questions

Objectives:

            Students should be able to

                        * know and define terms related to body directions, planes, regions

                        * know definitions for anatomy, physiology, and homeostasis

                        * know the levels of organization and a definition of each level

                        * identify body organs based on orientation and organization

                        * know the function of all of the body’s systems

 

back to top


A&P Background and Review

            Read and refer to related material in text book

            Standard anatomical position is the first important reference for all other related medical terms.  For humans, the normal anatomical reference is standing upright, facing forward, arms at the side and palms facing upward in the supine position.  For animals, there isn’t much debate.  They are on all fours, facing forward.  Their limbs do not normally rotate like the motions of the human wrist, so the supine reference is not used.

                                    Human Anatomical Position

                                    Animal Anatomical Position

            Body Planes provide the next important reference for all other related directional, regional, and landmark terms.  A body plane is an invisible line that divides the body.  The three major planes are at right angles to each other and allow for a three dimensional view to be created and referenced.  A fourth body plane is also used and is at a 45 ° angle to the other major body planes.

                        Frontal or Coronal Plane

                                             Divides the body into front and back halves

                                             Associated directional terms

                                                            Human   : Anterior, Posterior

                                                            Mammal: Ventral, Dorsal

                              Transverse Plane

                                             Divides the body into upper and lower sections

                                             Associated directional terms

                                                            Human   : Superior, Inferior

                                                            Mammal: Cranial, Caudal

                              Sagittal Plane

                                             Divides the body into right and left sections

                                                            If equal halves, then it’s midsagittal, or median

                                                            If unequal sections, then it’s parasagittal

                              Oblique Plane

                                             Divides the body at a 45 ° angle to two intersecting body planes

 

Additional terms based on anatomical references and body planes :

                        Lateral                         later/o                          side

                        Medial                         medi/o                         middle

                        Proximal                      proxim/o                      near

                        Distal                          dist/o                           far

                        Superficial                  super-                          above

                        Deep                            -------                          under              

Visible external landmarks are also an important reference and Latin or Greek names are used for these areas to create regional references.  Remember that many of these areas are based on word parts. See text book for full list.  Some examples are as follows:

            Cephal/o          Cephalic          pertaining to the head

            Brachi/o          Brachial          pertaining to the arm

            Cervic/o          cervical           pertaining to the neck or neck like structure

            Nas/o               nasal                pertaining to the nose

            Umbilic/o        umbilical         pertaining to the navel

            Femor/o           femoral            pertaining to the leg or thigh


Body Cavities

There are two major types of body cavities: Open and Closed. Open body cavities are open to the environment and are lined with a mucous membrane lining. Examples include openings for digestive, respiratory, ear, eye socket, urinary, and reproductive. Closed body cavities are closed to the environment and are lined with a serous membrane sac. Divisions of the closed body cavities are based on the use of body planes. Open body cavities will be discussed with the tissues and membrane linings.

Use of Body Planes

I. Identify internal body cavities

            Internal body cavities are inside spaces that are closed to the environment.  All closed body cavities are lined by a serous membrane that secretes a watery, slippery fluid called serous fluid which aids in decreasing friction.  This membrane forms a sac around particular internal body organs and is referenced by that organ.  For example, the serous membrane around the heart is called the pericardium (peri = around,  cardi/o = heart) and the serous fluid it secretes is called pericardial fluid that functions to decrease the frictional rubbing between the heart, lungs, and body wall.

            Body planes are used to determine and define internal body cavities. 

The frontal plane is used and since it divides the body into front and back halves, the body spaces are also named for this reference.  Using the frontal plane, the two major internal body cavities are then referred to as the:

                        Dorsal body cavity which houses the CNS: brain and spinal cord

                        Ventral body cavity which houses all other internal body organs

Since the ventral body cavity is very large, it is further subdivided into two parts.

The reference for this division is the transverse plane marked by the skeletal muscle of respiration, the diaphragm.  Above or superior to the diaphragm is the thoracic cavity which houses organs protected by the rib cage.  Below or inferior to the diaphragm is the abdominopelvic cavity which houses organs for the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems.  The abdominopelvic cavity is also large and can be subdivided into the abdominal and pelvic cavities.  The difference is that the pelvic cavity is within the pelvic or hip bones.

Thoracic Ventral Body Cavity

Abdominopelvic Ventral Body Cavity

Body Cavities of Specimens:

Rat specimen

Cat Specimen

Pig Specimen

II. External reference for the abdominopelvic cavities

            Using the transverse and sagittal body planes, the abdominopelvic cavity can be externally divided into four quadrants or nine regions.  This allows for localization of internal body organs for palpation during a medical exam.  See text book for the names of the four quadrants and nine regions.  Note what organs are found in each section.

III. Surgical Reference

            Body planes are used as a reference for surgical incisions.  Examples:

                        Midsagittal pelvic incision

                        Left parasagittal thoracic incision

                        Transverse abdominal incision

IV. Imaging Reference

            Body planes are used for reference and orientation during imaging techniques.

                        Radiographs :   AP (anterior / posterior) position, lateral position

                        Sonography :

                        MRI , PET, CAT scan : transverse cut, frontal cut


    

Body Organization

            Levels of organization help to provide a basis for examination and diagnosis.

The most basic level of organization is at the molecular or chemical level.  This provides the function and interaction at the physiological level.  Chemical and molecular interactions allow for structural and functional components of building blocks that create the next level, or cellular level.  There are many types of cells and many functions for cells.  When groups of cells with similar functions are grouped together, they are called tissues.  There are four major tissue groups that provide the structure for organs, which in turn form organ systems. There are eleven organ systems ( such as nervous, muscles, sensory, digestive, circulatory , skin, skeletal, respiratory ) that function together to form an individual organism.  While this is where we end our A&P studies, organisms together form populations, populations together form communities, and communities form ecosystems.

            Related courses of Biological study include:

Cytology, histology, developmental biology, anatomy, physiology, pathology, biology, population ecology, community ecology, ecosystems, and biodiversity.

Important Terms

Anatomy

            Ana-  = apart, -tomy = cut

            Anatomy is the study of structure and can be done at various levels.

                        Gross Anatomy is the study of visible structures such as organs.

                        Microscopic anatomy is the study of structures with the use of a  microscope                                                       Structures can be cells or tissues.

                        Embryology is the study of developmental anatomy of the embryo or fetus

                        Pathologic Anatomy is the study of abnormal anatomical conditions or  diseases,                                       

Physiology

            Physi/o = nature, -logy = study of

            Physiology is the study of the nature of how things work or the function.

At the most basic levels, physiology is the chemistry of the cells which determine the function of tissues, organs, and organ systems.

            Pathophysiology is the study of the causes of abnormal conditions or diseases.

Homeostasis

            Home/o = same , stasis = condition or state

            Homeostasis is the tendency of systems to balance or maintain a steady state.

            This balance is dynamic equilibrium and is constantly changing to maintain normal conditions. Most systems have a midpoint within a normal range. 

            Some have a narrow or short range of normal, such as blood calcium levels at 9-10 mg/dl.  Other systems have a wide or broad range of normal, such as blood glucose levels measured at 70-120 mg/dl.

            Homeostatic imbalances are the reasons for abnormal conditions or diseases.

            Homeostasis is controlled by three body systems:

                                    Nervous, Endocrine, and Immune

                        Control and balance is maintained by communication and feedback.

            Communication is achieved by releasing chemicals.

            The nervous system releases neurotransmitters or neuromodulators

            The endocrine system releases hormones or neurohormones, and the immune system releases cytockines.

            Feedback is the response to the chemicals released.

                        a) Feedback that turns the control on or off is called negative

                        b) Feedback that continues the response until completion is   called   positive.

 

back to top


Medical Terminology

Ana-                up, back, return to                                -tomy               cut, linear insicion

Physi/o-           nature                                                  -ology              study

Crani/o-           skull                                                    caud/o-              tail

Chrom/o-         color                                                    later/o-            side

Home/o-          same                                                    -stasis              stop

Ventr/o-           abdomen                                              viscer/o-          organ

Trans-              across                                                  ultra-               above, superior

Ipsi                  itself, same as                                      dextro-             right

Deci                tenth                                                     deca-               ten

Holo-               entire                                                   quad-               four

Hept-               seven                                                   hex-                 six

Medi             middle                                                 (r)rhaphy-        suture

Retro-              backwards                                           mero-               part

Oct-                 eight                                                    tetra-                four

Pexy                fix, make fast                                       hect-                hundred

Iatr/o-              physician                                             vert-                turn

-cele                tumor, hernia                                       coel-                body cavity

for-                  door, opening                                      radi-                ray

 

back to top


Exercises/Activities

Body Plane Identification

 

Body Cavity Identification

Organman Body Cavity ID

            Torso Body Cavity ID

 

Body Organ Identification

            Pig: male

            Cat: female

            Skeleton I with organs

Skeleton II with organs

            Transverse sectioned head model and transverse torso model

Body Organ and System: Identify the following organs, give their functions and which system they belong.

Body Regional Landmarks: Name 4 anterior and 4 posterior reference landmarks using medical terms and identify their location. (e.g. Plantar, bottom of the foot).

Name the 9 abdominopelvic regions and an associated organ.

Body System Identification: Posters

            System A Poster

System B Poster

System C Poster

System D Poster

System E Poster

System F Poster

Anatomy : What is the difference between these subspecialties of Anatomy?

            Gross

            Microscopic

            Developmental

            Pathological

Define Physiology and name two subspecialties.

Compare and Contrast the anatomical positons of a quadraped vs. biped.

Lab report “ranges” for Homeostasis

            RBC: Normal range is 4.2-5.6 x 10,000,000 microliters

            WBC: Normal range is 3.8-10.6 x 10,000 microliters

            Chemistries:

Albumin Normal range is 3.5-5.0 g/ dL

Blood calcium normal range is 8.5-10.5 mg / dL

Blood sugar normal range is 70-125 mg / dL

            Special tests:

Free T4 (thyroxine) normal range is 0.8-1.8 ng/ dL

Total Cholesterol desired normal is < 200 mg / dL

Why are there so many ranges for these laboratory values ? Why are some values tightly regulated, that is, they have a narrow range (9-10) while other values have a larger range (i.e. 20-75)? What body systems are important in the regulation of homeostasis, the balance of the body's different processes? Can you give the overall name for any imbalance of homeostasis?

Concept Map : Make a concept map of the body organization. Insert your map into your report or scan it seperately as a PDF document. You can hand draw or use computer program aids such as the link provided.

Frog Dissection : click here to "practice" your dissection techniques and learn about body systems

Case Study: Body

back to top


Application

RADS: Film, Machine

Endoscopy: Film, Machine

Sonography: Film, Machine

Surgery:   Equipment, Incisions

Carcinogen, Metaplasia, Anaplasia,

Neoplasm, Benign, Malignant

 

back to top


Careers: X-ray technician

               Sonographer

               Radiologist

               Biochemist

               Public Health

               EMT-P

               MD, DO

               PA

               RN, LVN, Nurse Practitioner

               DVM, Veterinary Technician

               Gerontology

back to top


WWW sites

http://www.madsci.org/~lynn/VH/                                       ( Visible Human Project)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine.htm

http://med.usd.edu/anat/anat1.html

http://webmd.lycos.com/content/dmk/dmk_article_1459232

http://healthweb.org/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/index.cfm

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/408/408.html

http://health.discovery.com/

http://www.nih.gov/                           ( National Institute of Health Home page)

http://www.nih.gov/medlineplus (National Library of Medicine)

http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZNA23CGJC&sub_cat=338  torso side view

http://www.eMedicine.com

http://www.healthfinder.gov

back to top


Summary and Review Questions

1. Name the three body planes and explain how they divide the body.

2. Name a directional term associated with a body plane.

3. Define anatomy, physiology, and homeostasis

4. Give the Latin or Greek word part and definition for the following body landmarks

            a) Mammary

            b) Scapular

            c) Thoracic

            d) Abdominal

            e) Popliteal

            f) Peroneal

            g) Carpal

            h) Tarsal

            i) Patellar

            j) Inguinal

            k) Occipital

            l) Vertebral

            m) Oral

            n) Buccal

            o) Axillary

5. Define body cavity. Give the two internal body cavity divisions and what organs are located in each.

6. Give two associated organs and the function for the following body systems :

            a) Respiratory

            b) Lymphatic

            c) Cardiovascular

            d) Urinary

            e) Endocrine

            f) Integumentary

            g) Digestive

            h) Reproductive

7. Give the levels of organization for the body from largest to smallest, beginning with organism.

8.  Specify the relationship between the following structures using directional terms.

            a) The eyes are ________________to the nose

            b) The hands are ________________to the trunk

            c) The heart is __________________to the vertebra

            d) The ankle is __________________to the knee

            e) The elbow is __________________to the wrist

            f) The kidneys are ________________to the stomach

9. Define pathology and explain how it can be identified.

10. Why do diseases occur and how might this happen ?

back to top