Muscles of the Thorax
Activities
Muscles of the Thorax, Abdomen, and Posterior Back
Associated SLOs
1. Identify and define anatomical features of the spinal cord on a model or diagram for both longitudinal
view and cross-sectional views.
2. Apply learning outcomes 1 to describe signaling pathways via spinal nerves, including sensory and
motor information.
Required Materials
• Lab manual • Spinal cord cross section model
Procedure
1. Review all background information to answer the questions below.
2. Identify the following features on the spinal cord model:
o Posterior (dorsal) median sulcus
o Anterior (ventral) median fissure
o Posterior (dorsal) horn
o Anterior (ventral) horn
o Lateral horn
o Gray commissure
o Posterior (dorsal) root
o Posterior (dorsal) root ganglion
o Anterior (ventral) root
o Posterior (dorsal) column
o Anterior (ventral) column
o Lateral column
o Central canal
o Pia mater
o Arachnoid mater
o Subarachnoid space
o Dura mater
o Spinal nerve
Check Your Understanding
1. Name the layers of the meninges is from superficial to deep.
2. Fill in the following table:
Example of a Muscle
Innervated by Nerve
Nerve Nerve Plexus
Cervical
Triceps brachii
Ulnar
Flexor carpi radialis
Musculocutaneous
Deltoid
Femoral
Adductor Longus
Sacral
The dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.
3. Number the pathway in order from receiving a sensory signal to exciting a muscle via motor nerves:
____ Anterior root
____ Sensory nerve innervating the muscle
____ Anterior Ramus
____ Descending tracts of white matter
____ Posterior horn
____ Brain
____ Posterior root
____ Motor nerve innervating the muscle
____ Ascending tracts of white matter
____ Posterior ramus
____ Anterior horn
____ Posterior root ganglion
1. The Dura matter is the most superficial layer of the meninges, the epidural space is the potential space betwen dura matter and the skull. The Arachnoid matter is the middle layer of meninges, the subarachanoid space lies between dura matter and pia matter.Pia matter is the inner most layer of the meninges, unlike other layers this tissues adheres close to the brain.
Activities
Nervous Tissue Anatomy
Associated SLO
1. Describe the composition of gray and white mater and provide examples of brain structures made of
each.
Required materials
• None
Procedure
This activity will be completed individually or in small groups. Refer to the background information to answer
the questions below.
Check Your Understanding
Define the following terms and provide examples of each in the central nervous system
Terms Definition Examples in CNS
Gray mater
White mater
Brain Anatomy
Associated SLO
2. Describe and identify the brain meninges: dura mater, arachnoid mater, & pia mater
3. Define the following structural features of the brain: gyrus, sulcus, fissure
Required materials
• None
Procedure
This activity will be completed individually or in small groups. Refer to the background information to answer
the questions below.
Check Your Understanding
Categorize the following terms and provide a one line definition for each of them. For the meninges, also rank
them from the most superficial layer to the deepest layer.
Gyri, pia mater, sulcus, arachnoid mater, fissure, dura mater
Brain meninges Definition
Superficial-
Deepest-
Brain structures Definition
Anatomy of the brain
Associated SLO
4. Identify brain structures on a dissected brain specimen, model, or diagram.
Required materials
• None
Procedure
This activity will be completed individually. Refer to the background information to answer the questions
below.
Check Your Understanding
Label the following diagram with the appropriate structures
.
Sheep brain dissection
Required materials (provided)
• Gloves • Lab coat • Dissection tray • Knife • Sheep brain specimen
Procedure
This activity will be completed groups of 3-4 in the dissection lab. Please read the following steps carefully
before you begin.
1. Place the sheep brain specimen in the tray, dorsal side up (Fig 23.11 A).
2. Identify the cerebrum, the longitudinal fissure and the two hemispheres of the brain. You can also
locate examples of gyri, sulci and the different lobes of the cerebrum.
3. Place the brain in the tray ventral side up (Fig 23.11 B) and identify the cerebellum, pons, medulla and
optic chiasma. Place the brain on the tray, dorsal side up. Locate the longitudinal fissure and gently try
to widen it with your fingers (Fig 23.11 C).
4. Insert a knife in the fissure and cut through the brain into two longitudinal halves (Fig 23.11 D).
5. With the cut sides facing up, identify the thalamus, hypothalamus, pineal body, pons and medulla.
6. Locate the corpus collosum and lateral ventricles.
7. Observe the cut surface of the cerebellum and try to identify the tree like structure made of white
mater called arbor vitae or “tree of life”.
8. Compare the structures that you see in your dissected samples to those from other groups.
9. When you are done observing the sheep brain specimen, dispose it off in the biohazard bin and clean
the dissecting tray and knife.
10. Your TA will help you identify the same structures on a dissected human brain.
Figure 23.11 Sheep brain A) Dorsal side up B) Ventral side up C) Separated along longitudinal fissure
D) Dissected sheep brain.
Figure 23.12 Dissected Sheep brain
Cranial Nerves
Associated SLO
5. For each cranial nerve
a. Use the summary table (Table 23.1) as your source for this information.
b. Identify by both name and number on a model or diagram.
c. Provide one example of a function
d. Identify whether each nerve carries sensory information, motor information, or both types of
information.
Required materials
• None
Procedure
This activity will be completed individually. Refer to the background information to answer the questions
below.
Check Your Understanding
1. Identify and label this diagram with appropriate cranial nerves.
2. Fill in the blanks to complete the table.
Name Number Type Function
Vestibulocochlear
V
Both Motor information to the face.
Oculomotor
X
Activities
Functional Anatomy of Motor Control
Associated SLOs
1. Name key regions of the brain involved in motor control and summarize the role they play in motor
control.
Procedure
This activity will be completed individually. Refer to the background information to complete the table below.
Check Your Understanding
1. Complete the table below on the role structures of the brain play in motor control.
Nervous system structure Role in motor control
Brain stem
Thalamus
Motor cortex
Cerebellum
Motor Control Pathways
Associated SLOs
2. Describe spinal cord tracts associated with movement.
Procedure
This activity will be completed individually. Refer to the background information to complete the exercise
below.
Check Your Understanding
State whether each of the following statements is True or False. If false, re-write the statement to make it
true.
2. The axons of the corticobulbar tract are ipsilateral.
3. The pyramidal decussation is where most of the fibers in the corticospinal tract cross over to the
opposite side of the brain which have control over different domains of the musculature.
4. The anterior corticospinal tract is composed of the fibers that cross the midline at the pyramidal
decussation.
5. The lateral corticospinal tract is responsible for moving the muscles of the arms and legs.
6. The anterior corticospinal tract is responsible for controlling the muscles of the face.
7. The lower motor neurons that control the axial muscles of the trunk are located in the medial regions
of the ventral horn.
8. The anterior corticospinal tract is entirely contralateral.
9. The tectospinal tract projects from the midbrain to the spinal cord and is important for postural
movements that are driven by the superior colliculus.
10. The reticulospinal tract allows posture, movement, and balance to be modulated on the basis of
equilibrium information provided by the vestibular system.
Answer the following questions in 3-4 sentences.
11. How does the cerebellum contribute to the motor system?
12. How do lower motor neurons cause skeletal muscle contractions?
12. How do lower motor neurons cause skeletal muscle contractions?
How does the cerebellum contribute to the motor system
Voluntary Movement
Associated SLOs
3. Identify different phases of voluntary movement.
4. Apply the above SLOs to describe the fundamentals of voluntary movement control.
Procedure
This activity will be completed individually. Refer to the background information to complete the exercise
below.
Check Your Understanding
13. Name different regions of the nervous system that are involved in each of the following phases of voluntary
movement.
Phase of Voluntary movement Area of the nervous system
Planning
Initiation
Execution
14. Find a partner and designate one person in the group as the ‘actor’. The actor will pick and perform one action.
This can be as simple as standing up from your chair or lifting your phone from the desk. Keep the action as
simple as possible. The other partner will fill out the following table below based on that person’s action. Switch
roles and repeat for a different action. Refer to the example in this lesson to divide the action into different
steps and refer to previous lessons to precisely describe the anatomy associated with the chosen actions.
Action performed (in simple words)
Steps taken (in order) Anatomical region involved
Planning
Initiation
Execution
Region of the CNS:
Region of the PNS:
Action (in anatomical
terms) Nerve involved Name of muscle
Activities
Anatomy of the eye
Associated SLOs
1. Identify and describe internal and external eye structures on a model, eye specimen or diagram.
Required Materials
• Colored tape or post-it notes • Sharpie or marker • Eye model
Procedure
This activity requires you to label the structures of the eye on a model. You are provided a list of terms below
and you are expected to use every term provided. Using colored tape or post-it notes, please write the
number that corresponds to the term from the list and place them on your model.
List of Terms:
Eye – Internal Eye – External & Accessories
Anterior portion
Sclera
Cornea
Anterior chamber
Aqueous humor
Iris
Pupil
Posterior chamber
Lens
Ciliary body
Suspensory ligament
Posterior portion
Posterior cavity
Vitreous humor
Retina
Fovea centralis
Macula lutea
Optic disc
Tapetum lucidum
Choroid
Optic nerve
Lateral rectus muscle
Medial rectus muscle
Superior rectus muscle
Inferior rectus muscle
Superior oblique muscle
Inferior oblique muscle
Pupil
Iris
Sclera
Lacrimal caruncle
Check Your Understanding
1. Label the following figures by using the terms listed in the previous page.
2-Cow Eye Dissection
The cow eyes functionally and structurally similar to the human eye. During this activity, you will dissect a cow
eye, identify several structures of a cow eye and learn their functions.
Associated SLOs
1. Identify and describe external and internal eye structures on a dissected eye.
Required Materials (Provided)
• Preserved cow’s eye • Single-edged razor blade or scalpel • Dissection scissors • Dissection tray • Forceps • Latex gloves • Paper towel • Plastic trash bag
Procedure:
You will complete this activity in dissection lab as group of 2-3. Please read the following steps carefully before
you begin and while doing dissection.
1. Put on your personal protective gloves and get a cow eye from your TA.
2. Place the preserved cow eye on a dissecting tray.
3. Examine the external features of the eye.
– Note the large amount of fatty tissue and muscles surrounding the eye.
4. Cut away all the thick fat and the muscle surrounding the eyeball. Avoid cutting the tough optic nerve
on the back of the eye.
Fat
Muscle
Cornea
Optic
nerve
Fat
5. Using a scissor or scalpel, carefully cut through the sclera around the middle of the eye.
– While cutting through the sclera, a clear watery fluid will seep out which is aqueous humor.
– Note the tough consistency of the sclera and relate that to this layer’s function.
6. Separate the anterior and posterior portions of the eye.
Cornea
Optic
nerve
Cornea
Aqueous
humor
Sclera
7. Examine the vitreous humor and anterior structures (cornea, pupil, iris, ciliary body, lens).
8. Remove the vitreous humor and lens from the anterior portion of the eye to examine the iris and pupil.
9. Examine the posterior structures (retina, optic disc, tapetum lucidum, choroid, optic nerve).
– Note the tapetum lucidum which is not present in humans
10. Carefully remove the retina and examine the reflective layer beneath the retina.
Vitreous
humor
Cornea
Lens
Ciliary
body
Pupil
Iris
11. When you are done with the eye dissection, dispose of the eyeball in the biohazard bin and wash the
dissection tray, scalpels and scissors.
Cow Eye Dissection Lab Observation Sheet
Describe your observations of the parts of the cow’s eye as you worked through the dissection and connect
structure to function for each of the given structures:
Sclera:
Cornea:
Muscles and Fat:
Pupil:
Retina
Optic disc
Optic nerve
Optic disc
Tapetum
lucidum
Choroid
Retina
Iris:
Lens:
Optic Nerve:
Aqueous Humor
Vitreous Humor:
Retina:
Tapetum Lucidum:
Notes:
Check Your Understanding
1. Name the major anatomical difference between the cow eye and human eye that you observed.
________________________________________________________________________________________.
2. Why does the optic nerve cause a blind spot?
________________________________________________________________________________________.
3. If you enter a dark room after being in a bright room, what would happen to your pupil- get smaller or get
larger? Why?
________________________________________________________________________________________.
4.What is the function of the muscles surrounding the eye? How do they affect vision?
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
5. Light first enters the eye through the lens.
A) True
B) False
6. What is the white layer that surrounds eye?
A) Cornea
B) Retina
C) Ciliary body
D) Sclera
7. Which one of the following correctly lists the order of the parts through which light passes?
A) cornea, vitreous humor, lens, posterior cavity
B) cornea, posterior cavity, lens, vitreous humor
C) lens, vitreous humor, cornea, posterior cavity
D) cornea, lens, vitreous humor, posterior cavity
8. Fill in the blank with the appropriate words.
Structure Function
creates electrical impulses that are sent to the brain
External muscles
pigmented structure which controls diameter of pupil
Fovea
protects eyes against infection
Ciliary body
the jelly-like substance filling the central cavity of the
eye
Lens
contains light-sensitive cells – allows us to see details
clearly
Optic nerve
Activities
Anatomy of the ear
Associated SLOs
1. Identify and describe external, middle and inner ear structures on a model or diagram.
Required Materials
• Colored tape or post-it notes • Sharpie or marker • Ear model
Procedure
This activity requires you to label the structures of the ear on a model. You are provided a list of terms below
and you are expected to use every term provided. Using colored tape or post-it notes, please write the
number that corresponds to the term from the list and place them on your model.
List of Terms:
External & Middle Ear Inner Ear
Pinna (auricle)
Auditory canal (external acoustic meatus)
Tympanic membrane
Auditory (Eustachian) tube
Malleus
Incus
Stapes
Oval window
Round window
Cochlea
Cochlear nerve
Vestibule
Anterior semicircular duct
Posterior semicircular duct
Lateral semicircular duct
Vestibular nerve
Check Your Understanding
1. Label the following figure by using the terms listed in the previous page.
2. How does information from the ear get to the brain? Illustrate with a simple diagram.
Check Your Understanding
2. How sound waves striking the tympanic membrane result in movement of fluids in the inner ear?
________________________________________________________________________________________.
3. Do you think prolonged exposure to loud noise cause hearing loss? Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
5. What is the function of the inner ear?
A) Direct sound waves to the tympanic membrane.
B) Transforms sound waves into vibrations
C) Connects the middle ear with the nasopharynx
D) Transmit vibrations to the brain
8. Fill in the blank with the appropriate words.
Structure Function
Vestibule
transmits the electrical impulses generated for hearing to brain
Pinna
connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx
Tympanic membrane
transfers the vibration of the auditory ossicles to the cochlea
Vestibular nerve
transforms the sound in neural impulses
Auditory canal
transmits the sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear