BIO105 - Lab Practical 2

name the parts of the brain

cerebellum, thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland and brainstem

what is the function of the cerebellum

balance and coordination

what is the function of the thalamus

relays superior and motor signals to and from the cortex.

what is the function of the hypothalamus

regulates many basic functions, such as body temperature, thirst, hunger, sleep and hormone production.

what is the function of the pituitary gland

it secretes hormones that function as chemical messengers that play a role in regulating homeostasis in many bodily functions, all of it’s actions are governed by the hypothalamus

what is the function of the brainstem

it controls essential survival functions, including breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. it consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.

what are the layers of the meninges called?

dura matter, arachnoid mater and pia mater.

what is the function of the meninges

to protect the brain and spinal cord

what is gray matter? why is it gray?

it’s a tissue in the brain/spinal cord that helps you think, move, feel and remember. it’s gray because it consists mostly of neuronal cell bodies, dendrites and glial cells that lack myelin, which gives it a gray appearance.

what is white matter? why is it white?

it’s a tissue in the brain/spinal cord that facilitates communication between different brain regions. It is white because it is primarily composed of myelinated axons, which give it a lighter appearance.

where is the tricuspid valve located in the heart?

located between the right atrium and the right ventricle of the heart.

where is the bicuspid valve located in the heart?

located between the left atrium and the left ventricle of the heart.

why are the bicuspid and tricuspid valves also called atrioventricular valves?

because they are situated between the atria and ventricles of the heart, regulating blood flow between these two chambers.

what are the chordae tendineae? what is their function with regard to atrioventricular valves?

fibrous cords that attach the atrioventricular valves to the papillary muscles in the ventricles. they function to prevent the valves from inverting or prolapsing during ventricular contraction.

what are rod cells? what is the specific area where they are located in the retina called? what kind of vision are they responsible for?

photoreceptors found primarily in the peripheral regions of the retina, responsible for scotopic (low-light) vision and detecting motion.

what are cone cells? what kind of vision are they responsible for? where are they located in the retina?

photoreceptors located primarily in the central region of the retina, responsible for photopic (bright-light) vision and color perception.

name the bones of the ear

known as auditory ossicles, they include the malleus, incus, and stapes.

besides hearing, what is the ear also involved in?

balance and spatial orientation

what are the gases exchanged in the lungs? which gas is a waste product?

oxygen and carbon dioxide, with carbon dioxide being the waste product.

where in the lungs does the gas exchange happen?

the alveoli, tiny air sacs where oxygen is absorbed into the blood and carbon dioxide is released.

where are sperm produced? where do they mature?

produced in the testes and mature in the epididymis.

where do egg cells mature?

the ovaries.

where does fertilization occur in the human female?

in the fallopian tubes, where the sperm meets the egg.

follow the path of blood through the heart (including valves, arteries and veins)

the inferior and superior vena cava dump blood into the right atrium which passes through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. From the right ventricle, blood is pumped through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary arteries to the lungs where the blood becomes oxygenated. the oxygenated blood returns via the pulmonary veins to the left atrium, passing through the mitral valve into the left ventricle. Blood is then ejected through the aortic valve into the aorta, which distributes it throughout the body. Deoxygenated blood returns to the heart via the systemic veins to the superior and inferior vena cava.

identify structures found in the chest cavity using an x-ray

ribs, spine, heart, lungs, diaphragm, clavicle, trachea, etc.

name the structures in the digestive system?

mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus.

name the accessory organs of the digestive system

liver, pancreas, gallbladder

what is the major function of the colon

absorb water and electrolytes from indigestible food matter, turning liquid waste into solid stool.

what are the parts of the kidney (lab man, pg 119)

renal artery/vein, renal cortex, medulla, ureter, renal pelvis, minor calyx, major calyx, nephron, renal pyramid and renal corpuscle

what is the functional unit of the kidney

the nephron, which is responsible for filtering blood and forming urine.

what are the organs of the urinary system?

kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.