Lab 1.1 Flashcards: Body Cavities, Serous Membranes, Histology & Integumentary System

A set of Q&A style flashcards covering core concepts from Lab 1.1 notes: body cavities, serous membranes, abdominopelvic anatomy, histology basics (tissues, nervous and muscle tissue), integumentary system structures, and basic lab procedures.

What is the standard anatomical position and from whose perspective is it defined?

Defined from the patient's perspective.

Name the four primary tissue types.

Connective, epithelial, muscle, and nervous tissues.

Which body system contains all four primary tissue types?

The integumentary system.

What are the two main body cavities called?

Dorsal cavity and ventral cavity.

Which organs are housed in the dorsal cavity?

Brain and spinal cord.

What are the two layers of a serous membrane and which is attached to the cavity wall vs the organ?

Parietal layer attaches to the cavity wall; visceral layer attaches to the organ.

Serous membranes are named after what?

The cavity in which they’re found (e.g., pericardial, pleural, peritoneal membranes).

What serous membrane surrounds the heart?

Pericardium.

What serous membrane surrounds the left lung?

Left pleura.

What serous membrane surrounds the right lung?

Right pleura.

What fluid reduces friction between serous membranes?

Serous fluid.

The abdominopelvic cavity is subdivided into which two parts?

The abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity.

Which organs are retroperitoneal in the abdominopelvic cavity?

Kidneys and adrenal glands.

Which organs are subperitoneal?

Urinary bladder and the last part of the rectum.

What does retroperitoneal mean?

Behind; behind the peritoneum.

What does subperitoneal mean?

Below; below the peritoneum.

How many quadrants are in the abdominopelvic cavity and what are they called?

Four quadrants: right upper (RUQ), left upper (LUQ), right lower (RLQ), left lower (LLQ).

Which organ is commonly associated with pain in the lower right quadrant (LRQ) and McBurney’s point?

The appendix (appendicitis).

Name the cavities within the thoracic cavity and their major contents.

Pleural cavities (lungs) and the pericardial cavity (heart); mediastinum contains other structures.

What is the serous membrane surrounding abdominal and pelvic cavities called?

Peritoneum.

Name the membranes surrounding the heart, left lung, and right lung.

Heart: pericardium; Left lung: left pleura; Right lung: right pleura.

What is serous fluid’s purpose in serous membranes?

To protect organs by reducing friction.

What are the principal layers of the skin?

Epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis (subcutaneous layer).

Name the skin accessory structures discussed in Lab 1.1.

Arrector pili muscle and hair root plexus.

What are arrector pili muscles and hair root plexus?

Arrector pili muscles erect hairs; hair root plexus detects hair movement.

Which four primary tissue types are found in the skin (integumentary system) as noted in Lab 1.1?

Epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissues.

What is the naming convention for a specific tissue type (example)?

Must include both the specific tissue type and the primary tissue type (e.g., Cardiac Muscle Tissue).

What are the two components of nervous tissue and their functions?

Neurons (receive/send information) and Neuroglia (support neurons).

What are the main features used to identify nervous tissue under a microscope?

Neuron cell bodies (soma), axons, dendrites, and neuroglia.

What are the three muscle tissue types and a key distinguishing feature of each?

Skeletal muscle: striated, multi-nucleated, voluntary; Cardiac muscle: striated, intercalated disks, branched, 1–2 nuclei, involuntary; Smooth muscle: non‑striated, spindle-shaped, 1 nucleus, involuntary.

Where are skeletal muscles located and what is their function?

Attached to bones and skin; responsible for voluntary movement.

What is the tissue-facing step-by-step method to focus a microscope from 4x to 100x as described in Lab 1.1?

Start at 4x with coarse focus; center the target; switch to 10x and adjust with coarse/fine; switch to 40x and use fine only; switch to 100x and use fine only.

Which two body planes divide the body into front/back and left/right portions?

Frontal (coronal) plane divides anterior and posterior; sagittal plane divides left and right.

What is a transverse (cross) section?

A cut perpendicular to the long axis of the structure, typically a horizontal plane.

What is the difference between a midsagittal and parasagittal section?

Midsagittal divides the body into equal left and right halves; parasagittal divides into unequal left and right portions.

What is the Verrntral fluid’s purpose in serous membranes?

To lubricate and reduce friction between membranes and organs.

Which organ is used in the real-life scenario as a likely source of RLQ pain with rebound tenderness at McBurney’s point?

The appendix.