Curriculum – Labs

Anatomy courses: Find curriculum-guided lab activities here.

 
 

1-1 Introduction to digitized slide viewer:

1. How to view a slide

Go to Histology page.

Select the “Skin and Breast” slide. (Click to select).

A new login page will appear.

Select the “Guest option” and login.

2. How to view a slide in “full screen” mode.

Find the [asterisk/star] on the left panel.

Click this to make full screen.

(Use the [Esc] button to return.)

Practice going back and forth.

3. How to change magnification.

Find objectives (powers) in the upper left.

Click to change magnification.

You can also click on the screen to increase magnification.

Or you can use the mouse pad to change magnification. (Pinch or expand with two fingers on mouse pad).

4. How to move around the slide.

Click and drag anywhere on the slide.

Or use the up, down, right, left arrows on the keyboard.

 

 
 

1-2 Epithelium

 

1. Select the “Skin and Breast” slide from Histology.

2. Identify the layers of the skin.

3. Identify a hair follicle.

4. Are there any other adnexal structures (sebaceous glands, sweat glands, etc.)? Identify each.

 

 
 

1-3 Connective tissue.

 

1. Select the “Skin and Breast” slide from Histology.

2. What types of connective tissue can you see within the skin portion?

3. What types of connective tissue can you see within the breast portion?

 

 
 

1-4 Muscle – skeletal

 

1. View the “Thyroid, skeletal muscle” slide.

2. First look at low power.

a. How many portions of tissue are on the slide?

b. Identify which is thyroid and which is skeletal muscle.

3. Identify the muscle cells.

4. Identify Z-lines, A-Bands and H-Bands.

5. Identify the muscle nucleus, capillaries and adipose tissue.

6. Identify epimysium, perimysium and endomysium.

 
 

1-5 Muscle – cardiac

 

1. Select the “Heart” slide in Histology.

2. Identify cardiac muscle.

3. Identify the atrial, ventricular and valve tissue.

a. Which would you expect to be thicker — the atrium or the ventricle?

b. Which would expect to be comprised of cells vs. connective tissue — the muscle or the valve?

4. How does cardiac muscle differ from skeletal muscle?

a. Where is the nucleus located in cardiac muscle compared to skeletal muscle cells?

b. Identify intercalated discs.

5. Identify muscle striations.

6. Identify capillaries.

 
 

1-6 Neural – peripheral nerve

 

1. Select the “Heart” slide in Histology and look in the pericardial fat.

2. Identify a nerve in the pericardial fat.

3. Identify perineurium, nerve fascicle and Schwann cells.

 
 

1-7 Neural – brain

 

1. View the “Brain” slide in the Histology page.

2. Identify grey matter and white matter.

3. Identify neurons and glial cells.

 
 

1-8 View Histology for more tissue types.

 
Examples:
 
1. Blood vessels.

Select the Skin and Breast slide in Histology.

a. Find a capillary, artery and vein.

b. How can you tell the difference?

c. Identify each layer of the wall.

2. Blood cells.

Select the Skin and Breast slide in Histology.

a. Go to higher power on a blood vessel with blood in it.

b. What kinds of blood cells can you identify?


 
 

2-1 Arteries, veins, capillaries

 
1. Select the coronary artery slide in the Histology page.

a. Identify a region without plaque.

b. Identify the layers of the wall: intima, media and adventitia.

c. Identify the muscular layers.

2. Select the heart slide in the Histology page.

a. Identify the epicardial fat.

b. Identify a small coronary artery within the epicardial fat.

c. Identify the layers of the wall: intima, media and adventitia.

d. Identify the muscular layers.

e. Identify veins in the epicardial fat.

i. What is the difference between the wall of an artery and a vein?

 
3. View Case 13 Part 4.

a. What veins are being demonstrated?

b. Where do they drain to?

c. What veins connected to them outside the chest?

4. View Case 14 Part 3.

a. Beginning at 1:51 through the end of the video: what arteries are being demonstrated?

b. What parts of the body do they supply?

c. What arteries will they connect or branch to?

5. Select the Lung slide in the Histology page.

a. Identify capillaries in the alveolar septae.

b. How many cell layers is the capillary wall comprised of?

6. Select the Kidney slide in the Histology page.

a. Identify capillaries in the glomeruli.

b. How many cell layers is the capillary wall comprised of?

7. Explore other tissue types in the Histology page.

a. Identify microscopic arteries, veins and capillaries.

 
8. Summarize the gross, microscopic and functional differences between arteries and veins.

 
 

2-2 Heart external

1. These videos illustrate the external heart and have Anatomy Pins:

Case 17 Part 5
Case 28 Part 3 (00:00 – 00:09)

a. Use the Anatomy Pin video to assist. Identify the external structures.

b. Use the Free-Draw sketch pad to make a labelled diagram.

 
 
2. This video illustrates the heart and does not have Anatomy Pins:

Case 6 Part 8

a. What structures on the external view of the heart can you identify?

b. Use the Free-Draw sketch pad to make a labelled diagram.

 
 

2-3 Heart – valves

 
1. View Case 6 Part 9.

a. Identify and name each valve.

b. Identify papillary muscles and chordae tendineae.

c. Be able to identify the direction of flow across the valve and the chamber or vessel on each side of the valve.

d. Identify any coronary artery ostia.

 
2. Use the body map to identify additional videos which show valves.

 
 

2-4 Aorta

 
1. These videos illustrate the aorta:

 

a. Identify where you see the aortic root, aortic arch, descending aorta, thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta.

b. Identify the aortic hiatus in the diaphragm.

c. Identify the main branches of the aorta and/or their ostia: right brachiocephalic, left common carotid, left subclavian, celiac, superior mesenteric, renal, inferior mesenteric, and common iliac arteries.

d. Which of these vessels continue directly to their target organ or structure? And which branch into additional named vessels prior to reaching a target organ?

e. If the vessels branch, what are the named branches and their target organs?

f. Once you identify the target organs, name the returning veins from these organs.

 
 

2-5 Pulmonary circulation

 
1. These cases illustrate the location of the pulmonary trunk:

Case 1 Part 5
Case 12 Part 4
Case 39 Part 3
 
a. Is the pulmonary trunk to the left or right of the aortic root?

b. Is the pulmonary trunk to anterior or posterior to the aortic root?

c. If you were to insert forceps into the pulmonary trunk, you could advance it in three different directions.

i. What directions could you advance your forceps?

ii. Which vessels would you be advancing through in each direction?

iii. And at what main anatomic structure would arrive in each direction?

2. View Case 27 Part 8.

a. Identify the main hilar structures: pulmonary artery, pulmonary veins, mainstem bronchus.

b. Was a pulmonary embolism identified? Was it in a pulmonary artery or vein? Was it a lobar or sublobar vessel?

3. View Case 12 Part 4.

a. Identify the part of the video that shows exploration of the right pulmonary artery (between the pulmonary trunk and the right lung).

b. View the dissection of the pulmonary artery

c. Was a pulmonary embolism identified?

d. Was it within a lobar or sublobar vessel?

e. Which lobe was it in?

 
4. Your patient has a pulmonary embolism in a sublobar pulmonary artery of the right upper lobe of the lung. It originated as a deep venous thrombosis in the left popliteal vein.

a. Trace the path it travelled naming all the vessels and heart chambers along the way.

 
5. View the lung slide in Histology.

a. Identify the pulmonary edema.

i. Where is the pulmonary edema (inside what space)?

ii. What is usually inside this space?

b. Review the pulmonary circulation.

i. Explain how blood gets into and out of the lungs, naming the heart chambers and blood vessels comprising this circulation as they branch down to the capillaries inside the alveolar septae and then back again to the heart.

 
c. Explain why pulmonary edema occurs with left heart failure?

d. Would you expect pulmonary edema to occur in right heart failure?

e. What are diseases that can cause left heart, right heart or biventricular heart failure?

 
 

2-6 Portal circulation

 
1. View Case 39 Part 5 and Case 39 Part 8.

a. Review the portal circulation.

i. Identify and name the vessels and organs involved.

 
b. Review portal hypertension.

i. What are causes of portal hypertension?

ii. What are consequences of portal hypertension?

c. The patient’s spleen is massively enlarged.

i. Why does this happen in portal hypertension?

 
d. There is a clot in the splenic vein.

i. Why might this happen in portal hypertension?

 
 

3-1 Pleural space

 
1. These cases illustrate the pleural space:

Case 17 Part 4
Case 29 Part 4
Case 30 Part 7
Case 34 Part 2
Case 37 Part 4
Case 39 Part 3 & Case 39 Part 6

a. Evaluate each for pleural fluid and adhesions.

b. For the case(s) with pleural effusions:

i. Are they unilateral or bilateral?

ii. Which side?

iii. Estimate how much fluid is in there.

iv. Is the fluid serous, serosanguinous or hemorrhagic? Exudative or transudative?

v. What might an x-ray show in each patient?

c. For the case(s) with adhesions:

i. What are the adhesions between (example: right upper lobe to chest wall, right middle lobe to mediastinum, etc.)?

ii. Why might they be there (review History)?

2. In this case, the patient had a procedure with instrumentation through the chest wall into the pleural space:

Case 38 Part 5

a. Identify the contusion inside the chest cavity.

b. Decide if the hemorrhage is near the visceral or parietal pleura.

c. Then decide if the hemorrhage is external to the pleura, within the pleura itself, or internal to the pleura.

d. Would you expect hemorrhage inside the pleural cavity related to the procedure?

 
 

3-2 Lung external

 
1. These cases illustrate the external lung from various perspectives:

Case 1 Part 5 & Case 1 Part 9
Case 11 Part 8
Case 13 Part 8
Case 17 Part 4
Case 14 Part 6
Case 37 Part 4
Case 38 Part 8

a. Before you begin, decide which lobe on each side occupies most of the anterior, posterior, medial and lateral surfaces of each lung.

i. Refer to a diagram if need be.

 
b. For each case, decide when you are looking anterior, posterior, medial or lateral to the organ. Some cases show multiple perspectives.

c. For each case, identify superior and inferior.

d. Identify each visible lobe and each visible fissure.

e. Identify the diaphragmatic surface and lingula, where visible.

f. For Case 1, use the organ block (Part 9) to check if you correctly identified the lobes in situ (Part 5).

g. Decide for each case if there is any anatomic variation, or if the lungs show the usual configuration (3 lobes on the right; 2 lobes on the left).

h. After viewing these cases, reassess your understanding of which lobe on each side occupies most of the anterior, posterior, medial or lateral surface of the lung.

i. Has your understanding changed?

ii. Was your diagram correct?

iii. Is it the same or different in each patient?

iv. How will you apply this knowledge clinically?

 
 

3-3 Pulmonary arteries, pulmonary veins, bronchi

 
(see Cardiovascular 2-5)

 
 

3-4 Airway – larynx and trachea

 
1. These cases illustrate the larynx and airway (note, some of these will have Anatomy Pins).

Case 1 Part 6
Case 2 Part 10
Case 13 Part 8
Case 23 Part 2
Case 32 Part 3
 
a. Decide when the view is from anterior, posterior, superior, etc.

b. Which case shows trauma?

i. Where is it?

ii. What caused it?

c. Which case shows pulmonary edema filling the airway?

i. What caused it?

 
d. In which case(s) can you identify the epiglottis?

i. Is it complete or transected?

 
e. Which case shows an anatomic abnormality?

f. Which case(s) might have been difficult to intubate and why?

g. Which cases show identifiable strap muscles?

i. Which strap muscles can you identify?

 
h. Wherever it appears, identify the hyoid bone, laryngeal notch, true vocal cords, false focal cords, posterior tracheal membrane, tracheal rings, and carina.

j. Wherever it appears, identify the cricothyroid membrane (or where it would be located) and the thyrohyoid membrane.

k. Wherever the trachea appears, decide where you would position the tip of an endotracheal tube.

 
 

4-1 Esophagus

 
1. View the esophageal videos on the body map.

a. What structures are anterior, posterior and lateral to the esophagus?

b. Is the esophagus anterior or posterior to the trachea?

c. Is the esophagus anterior or posterior to the thoracic aorta? Does it depend on where you look in the chest?

d. Is the esophagus anterior or posterior to the inferior vena cava?

e. What is the name of the passageway through the diaphragm for the esophagus?

 
 

4-2 Stomach, small intestine, large intestine

 
1. These cases focus on the gastrointestinal tract:

Case 10
Case 11
 
a. Familiarize yourself with these terms:

Esophagus
Gastroesophageal junction
Stomach
Greater curvature
Lesser curvature
Pylorus
Antrum
Body
Fundus
Small intestine
Duodenum
Jejunum
Ileum
Ileocecal junction
Appendix
Colon
Cecum
Ascending colon
Transverse colon
Descending colon
Sigmoid colon
Rectum
Mesentery
Mesenteric surface
Antimesenteric surface
Right colic flexure
Left colic flexure
Mucosa

 
b. View the videos and identify as many of these structures as you can within the videos.

c. Groups — use the interactive video to add labels.

 
 

4-3 Liver, gallbladder

 

1. Use the Body Map to identify videos which include the liver and gallbladder.

a. Find one that shows cirrhosis.

b. Find one that shows the right and left lobes of the liver and the round ligament.

 
 

4-4 Pancreas

 
1. Use the Body Map to identify a video which shows the pancreas.

a. Where is it in relation to the stomach, duodenum and spleen?

 
 

5-1 Bone marrow

 
1. View the bone marrow slide in Histology.

a. Identify precursors of each cell type (red cell, white cell, platelets).

 
2. Case 13 Part 2 shows the cut surface of the ribs after removing the chest plate.

a. Identify each rib by its cut surface.

b. How many ribs do you identify on each side?

c. Which ones show bone marrow on the inside and which ones do not?

i. How can you tell the difference?

ii. For the ones that do not contain bone marrow, what are they filled with?

d. One of the cut surfaces is not a rib, but a different bone.

i. Which cut surface is not part of the ribs?

ii. Which bone is it?

 
 

5-2 Spleen

 
1. Case 9 Part 1 shows a spleen dissection.

a. Identify the splenic capsule and hilum.

b. Can you identify red and white pulp?

c. What is a spleniculus?

i. How common are these?

ii. Does the patient have one?

iii. Can they be multiple?

2. The patient in Case 39 had marked thrombocytopenia.

a. Review the case and decide why.

b. What factors normally regulate platelet levels?

c. What diseases can raise platelet levels?

d. What diseases can decrease platelet levels?

3. Case 39 Part 8 shows a thrombosed splenic vein.

a. Review the splenic and portal circulation.

b. Where did the thrombosed vein drain to (name the vein and/or organ it drains into)?

4. The patient in Case 8 had a TIPS procedure.

a. Review TIPS procedure.

b. In the case, the TIPS procedure that was “converted to a transplenic approach mid-procedure.” What does this mean?

c. What vessels were involved in the procedure?


 
 

5-3 Lymph nodes

 
1. Identify the lymph nodes in Case 39 Part 6 and Case 20 Part 4.

a. Where are the lymph nodes located in each video?

b. Are lymph nodes normal in size, appearance and number in each video? If not, explain what’s different.

c. Where are normal locations for lymph nodes in the body?

 
 

5-4 Blood cells

 
1. View the Skin and Breast slide in the Histology page.

a. Find a blood vessel with blood inside it.

b. Identify red cells, lymphocytes and neutrophils.

(Platelets are not typically visible in a section of tissue but can be found in a blood smear.)

 
 

6-1 Joints

 
1. List the main types of joints.

2. View these cases and decide what joint is highlighted in the video and what type it is.

 
 

6-2 Tendons and Ligaments

 

1. View Case 15 Part 2, Case 29 Part 2 and Case 32 Part 3.

a. Identify tendons in each video.

i. What are common characteristics?

 
b. Name the muscle, insertion and origin associated with each tendon based on surrounding anatomy. Note: This is an extremely challenging, but not impossible activity for some of these videos.

2. View Case 30 Part 2.

a. Identify the patellar ligament (tendon) and the quadriceps tendon.

i. In which has there been a tear and a surgical repair?

 
 

6-3 Skeletal muscle

 
1. View three cases with Y-shaped incisions.

2. Identify:

Subcutaneous tissue
Pectoralis major muscle
Pectoralis minor muscle
Ribs
Costal cartilage
Costochondral junction
Clavicle
Sternum
Sternal notch
Xyphoid process

 
3. Look up: what muscles attach to the clavicle.

a. Can you identify any in your videos?

 
4. Review intercostal muscle anatomy.

b. What is the blood supply an innervation of the intercostal muscles.

 
 

6-4 Skull

 
1. These videos show skull anatomy:

Case 5 Part 1
Case 12 Part 5
Case 16 Part 3
Case 31 Part 2
Case 35 Part 2

a. Review each video and make a master list of anatomic structures highlighted in the video from the “What’s inside” list (found on the right of the video at the top of the page).

b. Once your master list is made, go back to each video and try to identify each of the structures on the master list.

 

2. Apply your understanding of cranial anatomy to Case 19 Part 4.

a. In which cranial fossa is the tumor located.

b. Is the tumor superior or inferior to the cerebellar tentorium?

c. Where is the transverse sinus in relation to the tumor?

d. Where is the superior sagittal sinus in relation to the tumor?

e. Where is the spinal cord in relation to the tumor?

f. Is the tumor anterior or posterior to the petrous bone?

g. Which blood vessel likely supplied the tumor?

h. Is the tumor adjacent to the frontal, parietal, temporal or occipital bone?

i. Name the calvarial suture(s) that would be nearest to the tumor.

j. What portion of the brain did the tumor compress?

k. What change in function could this tumor possibly have caused?

l. Where are meningiomas typically found?

m. If the tumor had caused herniation, what type of herniation might it have caused?

n. Which of the meningeal layers contained the meningioma: pia, arachnoid or dura mater?

o. Which cranial nerves were closest to the tumor?

p. Was this a resectable tumor?

q. What surgical approach might have been used to remove this tumor?

 
 
3. Apply your understanding of cranial anatomy to Case 31 Part 2.

a. Identify where the internal and external trauma occurred (name the bones).

b. What cranial nerves are nearest the site of internal trauma?

 
4. Apply your understanding of cranial anatomy to Case 7 Part 6.

a. Go to 00:45.

i. Orient the patient (decide what is anterior, posterior, right and left).

ii. Identify each of the visible bones and sutures.

iii. Where was the burr hole drilled?

iv. What structures did the surgeon pass through while drilling the hole?

v. What lobe of the brain was under the burr hole?

a

 
 

6-5 Diaphragm

 
1. Find videos on the diaphragm in the Body Map (Scan “Respiratory, Gastrointestinal” option).

2. Find a diagram of the diaphragm.

3. Be able to identify the esophageal, aortic and caval hiatus.

a. Which one is nearest the spine (posterior)?

b. Which one is most anterior?

c. Which one is most to the right?

d. Which one is most to the left?

e. Draw out each on a diagram.

7. Identify the central tendon.

8. What is the function diaphragm.

9. What is the blood supply and innervation of the diaphragm.

 
 

7-1 Kidney, Ureter

 
1. This video shows a posterior view of the organ block and a dissection of the kidneys:

Case 5 Part 1

a. Keep handy or sketch out a diagram that includes these structures:

Common iliac arteries, bilateral
Aorta
Celiac artery
Superior mesenteric artery
Inferior mesenteric artery
Bilateral renal arteries
Bilateral kidneys
Bilateral ureters
Bilateral adrenals

 
b. Is the renal artery superior or inferior to the superior mesenteric artery?

c. View the video with your diagram handy.

i. Is it an anterior or posterior view of the organ block?

 
d. Identify superior and inferior in the video.

e. Orientation switches in the video.

i. Identify when that happens.

 
f. Is the aorta to the right or left of the inferior vena cava in initial view?

g. Keep track of the renal arteries.

h. Identify the kidneys and ureters when they are exposed during the dissection.

i. Have ureters already been transected near the bladder or are they still connected?

j. Mark your diagram every 15 seconds as you watch the video to indicate where the dissection is taking place.

Example: Place an “X” and “00:30” at the right renal artery ostium — the focus of the dissection video at that point in the video.

 

2. Case 20 Part 6 at 5:35 shows the prostate, bladder and right ureter. The left ureter has been cut.

a. Identify where you think the left ureter would attach to the bladder.

 
3. Case 7 Part 4 shows narrow view of anatomy near the pelvis. The right ureter is identified.

a. What structures are near to the ureter?

b. Beginning at the kidney, what structures does the ureter pass on the way to the bladder?

c. What structures does the ureter cross over (anterior to)?

d. What structures does the ureter cross behind (posterior to)?

 
 

7-2 Male reproductive system, Bladder

 
1. Case 37 Part 7 shows the prostate, bladder and testes.

a. Identify the prostate.

i. Identify the prostatic urethra, seminal vesicles and vas deferens.

ii. Is the vas deferens medial or lateral to the seminal vesicles?

b. Identify the bladder.

i. Is there any urine inside?

 
c. Identify the testis.

i. Is it the right or left testis?

ii. From what passageway is it retrieved?

ii. What structure normally sits in this passageway?

d. The rectum is not visible in the video.

i. Is the rectum anterior or posterior to the prostate and bladder?

 
 

7-3 Female reproductive system

 
1. These videos shows the female reproductive organs in the pelvis and after removal:

Case 21 Part 4
Case 21 Part 5

 
a. Identify the bladder and uterus in Part 4 and Part 5.

b. Order from anterior to posterior: rectum, bladder, uterus.

c. Identify these structures:

Vaginal wall
Cervix
Cervical os
Body of uterus
Fallopian tubes
Ovarian ligament
Ovary
Parametrium

 
d. What are the medial and lateral attachments of the ovarian ligament?

e. Does the fallopian tube attach directly to the ovary?

f. Is the fallopian tube anterior or posterior to the ovarian ligament?

g. At the end of the Case 21 Part 4, is the retrieved uterus viewed from anterior or posterior?

i. How can you tell?

 
h. Is there urine in the bladder? (Part 4)

i. Identify the endocervical canal. (Part 4)

j. Identify the endometrial cavity and myometrium. (Part 4)

 
 

8-1 Brain

 
1. These cases show a brain dissection and include Anatomy Pins.

Case 5 Part 2
Case 5 Part 3
 
a. Identify each of the structures using the list of terms beside the Anatomy Pins.

b. Then scroll-up the list to hide. Now review each pin and be able to identify the structure.

 
2. These cases show a brain dissection and include Anatomy Pins.

Case 19 Part 5
Case 19 Part 6
 
a. Identify each of the structures using the list of terms beside the Anatomy Pins.

b. Then scroll-up the list to hide. Now review each pin and be able to identify the structure.

c. For groups — use the interactive video to label each structure.

 
 

8-2 Spinal cord

 
1. These cases show retrieval of the spinal cord.

Case 6 Part 3
Case 6 Part 6
Case 6 Part 7
 
a. Decide if the segment(s) of spinal cord being removed is cervical, thoracic or lumbar.

b. How caudal does the spinal cord go?

c. Identify the cauda equina.

i. At what vertebral level is it found?

 
d. What structures or spaces surround the spinal cord?

i. Begin with the spinal cord and end with the vertebral bone.

ii. Which ones are identifiable in the videos?

e. Can you identify any peripheral nerve roots in any of the videos?

f. What is the blood supply of the spinal cord?

g. Review the anatomy of vertebral bone.

i. What portions of the vertebral bone were cut to access the spinal cord?

 
 

 
 

8-4 Peripheral nervous system

 
(See Tissue types 1-6 Neural – peripheral nerve)


 
 

9-1 Overview – Endocrine

 
1. Use the Body Map (Endocrine and Gastrointestinal) to search for videos with pancreas, thyroid, adrenals, ovaries and testes. Identify the organs.

2. Find the sella turcica in a Case 5 Part 1. Select Pin 16 to view. It’s where the pituitary sits.