Anatomy & Physiology

The Skeletal System

Strong yet light, the human skeletal system is perfectly adapted for protecting the body and allowing motion. No other animal has such long legs (compared to the arms or forelimbs) or such strange feet, and few have grasping hands with opposable thumbs. The A&P students have been studying the bones of the skeleton, which are part of the skeletal system. The skeletal system also includes joints, cartilages, and ligaments. The students have been working hard to learn approximately 206 different bones, yet there is always time for some fun. Below are images of some students holding the study model of the skeleton; Mr. Skeleton!

Skin and Body Memranes

Students in Anatomy and Physiology have been completing “Investigating the Skin” labs over the last few days. Investigating the Skin - HASPI Medical Anatomy & Physiology Lab Activities includes the three following labs;

Tissue Repair and Developmental Aspects of Cells and Tissues

Students are finished learning about the chapter Cells and Tissues. Over the past few weeks, students learned how to define neoplasms and distinguish between benign and malignant neoplasms. In addition, they can explain the significance of the fact that some tissue types (muscle and nerve) are largely amitotic after the growth stages are over. Furthermore, at the end of every chapter, students complete “At The Clinic.” This activity enables students to use their new knowledge in diagnosing certain conditions. Below are some of the student’s diagnoses.

Body Tissues

Groups of cells that are similar in structure and function are called tissues and represent the next level of structural organization. The four primary types of tissues - epithelial, connective, nervous, and muscle tissues - interweave to form the fabric of the body.

Students in A&P are learning about the four major tissue types and their chief subcategories. By completing virtual lab exercises, and drawing and labeling each type of tissue, students can now identify epithelial tissues and connective tissues. They can also give the chief locations of the various tissue types in the body. At the beginning of Semester II, students will learn about the nervous and muscle tissues. In addition, they will be able to describe the process of tissue repair (wound healing).

Cells and Tissues

Anatomy and Physiology students have been reviewing how the cell is the structural and functional unit of the human body and how cells carry out the chemical activities needed to sustain life, and how they divide to form or repair tissues. After Winter Break, students will discover why the many types of tissues formed by cells allow for the division of labor among the body systems.

pH of the Body

Students conducted a lab where they sampled their own pH levels over a period of 2 days. Once they completed the initial testing, they compared their results with their classmates. Once the class averages were determined, they completed a histogram to compare the frequency of occurrence in the data. Once they analyzed the data, they completed review/analysis questions to complete their study of determining how their average pH compared to a healthy individual.