BIOL1102 Lab Practicum 2 Study Guide – Vertebrate Anatomy & Development

Comprehensive vocabulary terms and functional pathways for vertebrate anatomy and animal development based on lab practicum materials.

Epithelial Tissue

Covers surfaces, lines cavities, and forms glands.

Connective Tissue

Supports, binds, and protects; includes bone, blood, and cartilage.

Muscle Tissue

Responsible for movement; types include skeletal, cardiac, and smooth.

Nervous Tissue

Conducts electrical impulses throughout the body.

Visceral

A term used to describe a structure related to an organ.

Parietal

A term used to describe a structure related to the body wall.

Digestive Pathway

Mouth → pharynx → esophagus → stomach → small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) → large intestine → rectum → anus.

Alveoli

Structure in the lungs where $O_2$ enters and $CO_2$ leaves.

Hepatic Portal System

Pathway for nutrients from the intestines: Small intestine capillaries → mesenteric veins → hepatic portal vein → liver.

Mesenteric veins

Veins that carry nutrients from the intestines to the hepatic portal vein.

Hepatic vein

Carries blood from the liver to the caudal vena cava.

Glomerulus

A network of capillaries where filtration occurs in the kidney.

Bowman’s capsule

The part of the nephron that collects filtrate from the glomerulus.

Proximal convoluted tubule

The segment of the nephron following Bowman's capsule in the excretory pathway.

Loop of Henle

Responsible for water and salt reabsorption to concentrate urine.

Distal convoluted tubule

The segment of the nephron following the loop of Henle.

Collecting duct

Receives filtrate from the distal convoluted tubule and delivers it to the renal pelvis.

Renal pelvis

The region of the kidney that collects urine before it enters the ureter.

Ureter

The tube that transports urine from the renal pelvis to the urinary bladder.

Sperm Pathway

Testes → epididymis → ductus deferens (vas deferens) → urethra.

Egg Pathway

Ovary → oviduct → horn of uterus → body of uterus → vagina → outside.

Ductus venosus

A fetal shortcut that bypasses the liver by connecting the umbilical vein to the caudal vena cava.

Foramen ovale

A hole between the right and left atria that bypasses the lungs and sends $O_2$-rich blood to the head.

Ductus arteriosus

A fetal shortcut that bypasses the lungs by connecting the pulmonary trunk to the dorsal aorta.

Right atrium

Heart chamber that receives deoxygenated blood from the body.

Right ventricle

Heart chamber that pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs.

Left atrium

Heart chamber that receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.

Left ventricle

Heart chamber that pumps oxygenated blood to the body.

Pulmonary trunk

Great vessel that carries blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.

Aorta

Great vessel that carries blood from the left ventricle to the body.

Caudal vena cava

Large vein that returns blood from the lower body to the heart.

Cranial vena cava

Large vein that returns blood from the upper body to the heart.

Coeliac (celiac) artery

Supplies blood to the stomach, spleen, and pancreas.

Cranial mesenteric artery

Supplies blood to the intestines.

Renal arteries

Supplies blood to the kidneys.

Umbilical arteries

Fetal vessels that supply blood to the placenta.

Gastrosplenic vein

Drains blood from the stomach, spleen, and pancreas.

Cranial mesenteric vein

Drains blood from the intestines.

Hepatic portal vein

The union of the gastrosplenic and cranial mesenteric veins that travels to the liver.

Dendrites

The part of a neuron that receives signals.

Cell body

The part of a neuron that contains the nucleus.

Axon

The part of a neuron that conducts impulses away from the cell body.

Myelin sheath

The part of a neuron that speeds up electrical conduction.

Synaptic terminal

The part of a neuron that releases neurotransmitters.

Reflex Arc

Stimulus → receptor → sensory neuron → spinal cord (integration center) → motor neuron → effector (muscle/gland) → response.

Animal Development Sequence

Gamete → fertilization → zygote → cleavage → morula → blastulation → gastrulation → organogenesis → fetus → birth.

Teratogen

Anything that causes birth defects, such as drugs, alcohol, viruses, or chemicals.

Pencil grip

A scalpel technique used like holding a pencil for making fine cuts.

Fingertip grip

A scalpel technique used for tougher tissue by applying more pressure.

Surgeon’s knot

A technique involving two throws in the same direction, then one in the opposite direction.