October 13: Anatomy Lab

Grading Experience in Class

• Grading results of students noted as having both stress and pleasure:

  • Emotional response to student performance being mixed (euphoria from successes and despair from failures).

• Details of exam performance distribution:

  • Use of grading scale explained:

  • Conservative grading scale: 90 (%) = A, 80 = B, 70 = C, etc.

  • Specific breakdown of results:

  • 5 A’s, 14 B’s, 2 C’s, and 15 D’s and F’s noted in a class of 31 students.

Student Accountability and Prerequisites

• Discussion on why students failed:

  • Lack of prior qualifications, attendance issues, and inadequate study habits.

  • Advice given to students to seek help and support if struggling with course material.

Nervous System Overview

• Introduction to the nervous system’s structure and function:

  • Covered both peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS).

  • Explanation of neural function and processing:

  • Input from sensory perception leading to motor commands.

  • Mention speeds of nerve impulses:

  • Average speed noted: 3000 feet per second or equivalent to 10 football fields.

Neural Anatomy

• Basic components of a neuron explained:

  • Neurons, dendrites, cell bodies, axons, terminal boutons, and synapses discussed.

  • Types of nerves and their functions: motor vs sensory.

• Distinction between somatic and autonomic systems made:

  • Somatic nervous system deals with voluntary responses,

  • Autonomic nervous system with involuntary functions.

Understanding Pain and Reflexes

• Differentiation of somatic pain versus autonomic responses.

• Importance of reflexes in survival:

  • Example given regarding touching a hot surface and the reflex action.

Neurotransmission Process

• Description of how a neuron transmits signals:

  • Resting potential to action potential transition detailed.

  • The role of ions and depolarization discussed in generating nerve impulses.

Glial Cells and Neural Support

• Types of glial cells and their specific functions:

  • Astocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglial, and Schwann cells outlined.

• Discussion of myelination in peripheral versus central nervous systems:

  • Myelin sheath protection and role in nerve signal conduction.

Histology of the Nervous System

• Examination of three spinal cord models for study:

  • Noted the importance of understanding the cross-section of spinal cord in lab exams.

Meninges and Protection of the CNS

• Layers around the spinal cord and brain explained:

  • Dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater discussed in the context of meningitis and its implications.

Summary of Sensory and Motor Paths

• Recap of sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) pathways:

  • Sensory information travels to the brain via ascending tracts,

  • Motor information descends from the brain to the body.

Final Notes

• Encouragement for students regarding upcoming material and exams:

  • Emphasis on understanding difficult concepts, particularly regarding the nervous system examination.

• Conclusion with motivational remarks about learning and adapting as older, experienced individual.