BIOD 151 Essential Human Anatomy & Physiology I
Comprehensive Study Guide | 2026/2027 Syllabus
Module 1: Anatomical Terminology, Cells, and Tissues
1. Q: A student is in lab with a messy desk, a cup of coffee, and a microscope hanging off
the edge. List three lab safety violations.
o ANSWER ✓ Food/drink in the lab, microscope not secured safely on the bench, and a
cluttered workspace .
2. Q: Define anatomical position.
o ANSWER ✓ The body is standing erect, facing forward, with feet flat on the floor and
arms at the sides, palms facing forward .
3. Q: A surgical patient is placed on their back, facing upward. What is this position called?
o ANSWER ✓ Supine .
4. Q: If a patient is lying on their belly, face down, they are in the ________ position.
o ANSWER ✓ Prone.
5. Q: Which plane divides the body into equal left and right halves?
o ANSWER ✓ Mid-sagittal (or median) plane .
6. Q: A cut that divides the body into superior and inferior portions is called a ________
plane.
o ANSWER ✓ Transverse (or horizontal) .
7. Q: The plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior sections is the ________
plane.
o ANSWER ✓ Frontal (or coronal) .
8. Q: The heart is located ________ to the ribs.
o ANSWER ✓ Deep (or anterior/intermediate).
9. Q: The eyes are ________ to the occipital region of the head.
o ANSWER ✓ Anterior (or ventral) .
10. Q: In anatomical position, the hand is ________ and ________ to the shoulder.
o ANSWER ✓ Distal and inferior .
11. Q: The leg is ________ to the thigh.
, o ANSWER ✓ Distal.
12. Q: The two main body cavities are the ________ and ________ cavities.
o ANSWER ✓ Dorsal and ventral .
13. Q: Name the three subdivisions of the thoracic cavity.
o ANSWER ✓ The two pleural cavities and the mediastinum .
14. Q: Which cavity contains the heart, esophagus, and trachea?
o ANSWER ✓ The mediastinum.
15. Q: What does the term "retroperitoneal" mean? Name one organ located there.
o ANSWER ✓ It means located behind the peritoneum. Examples include the kidneys,
adrenal glands, or pancreas .
16. Q: The membrane that lines the internal surface of the lung is the ________ pleura.
o ANSWER ✓ Visceral .
17. Q: Inflammation of the pleural lining is called ________.
o ANSWER ✓ Pleurisy .
18. Q: Name the four primary tissue types in the body.
o ANSWER ✓ Epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue .
19. Q: What are the three main germ layers that give rise to tissues during embryonic
development?
o ANSWER ✓ Ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm .
20. Q: From which germ layer does connective tissue originate?
o ANSWER ✓ Mesoderm .
21. Q: List three characteristics of epithelial tissue.
o ANSWER ✓ High cellularity with little matrix, covers surfaces/lines cavities, has an apical
(free) surface, attaches to a basement membrane, avascular, and has a direct nerve
supply .
22. Q: How is epithelial tissue classified?
o ANSWER ✓ By the number of cell layers (simple, stratified, pseudostratified) and the
shape of the cells at the apical surface (squamous, cuboidal, columnar) .
23. Q: Which type of epithelial tissue is best suited for diffusion and filtration, and where is
it found?
o ANSWER ✓ Simple squamous epithelium; found in lung alveoli and the lining of blood
vessels (endothelium) .
24. Q: You are looking at a tissue sample where all cells touch the basement membrane, but
not all reach the apical surface. What type of tissue is this?
o ANSWER ✓ Pseudostratified columnar epithelium .
Comprehensive Study Guide | 2026/2027 Syllabus
Module 1: Anatomical Terminology, Cells, and Tissues
1. Q: A student is in lab with a messy desk, a cup of coffee, and a microscope hanging off
the edge. List three lab safety violations.
o ANSWER ✓ Food/drink in the lab, microscope not secured safely on the bench, and a
cluttered workspace .
2. Q: Define anatomical position.
o ANSWER ✓ The body is standing erect, facing forward, with feet flat on the floor and
arms at the sides, palms facing forward .
3. Q: A surgical patient is placed on their back, facing upward. What is this position called?
o ANSWER ✓ Supine .
4. Q: If a patient is lying on their belly, face down, they are in the ________ position.
o ANSWER ✓ Prone.
5. Q: Which plane divides the body into equal left and right halves?
o ANSWER ✓ Mid-sagittal (or median) plane .
6. Q: A cut that divides the body into superior and inferior portions is called a ________
plane.
o ANSWER ✓ Transverse (or horizontal) .
7. Q: The plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior sections is the ________
plane.
o ANSWER ✓ Frontal (or coronal) .
8. Q: The heart is located ________ to the ribs.
o ANSWER ✓ Deep (or anterior/intermediate).
9. Q: The eyes are ________ to the occipital region of the head.
o ANSWER ✓ Anterior (or ventral) .
10. Q: In anatomical position, the hand is ________ and ________ to the shoulder.
o ANSWER ✓ Distal and inferior .
11. Q: The leg is ________ to the thigh.
, o ANSWER ✓ Distal.
12. Q: The two main body cavities are the ________ and ________ cavities.
o ANSWER ✓ Dorsal and ventral .
13. Q: Name the three subdivisions of the thoracic cavity.
o ANSWER ✓ The two pleural cavities and the mediastinum .
14. Q: Which cavity contains the heart, esophagus, and trachea?
o ANSWER ✓ The mediastinum.
15. Q: What does the term "retroperitoneal" mean? Name one organ located there.
o ANSWER ✓ It means located behind the peritoneum. Examples include the kidneys,
adrenal glands, or pancreas .
16. Q: The membrane that lines the internal surface of the lung is the ________ pleura.
o ANSWER ✓ Visceral .
17. Q: Inflammation of the pleural lining is called ________.
o ANSWER ✓ Pleurisy .
18. Q: Name the four primary tissue types in the body.
o ANSWER ✓ Epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue .
19. Q: What are the three main germ layers that give rise to tissues during embryonic
development?
o ANSWER ✓ Ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm .
20. Q: From which germ layer does connective tissue originate?
o ANSWER ✓ Mesoderm .
21. Q: List three characteristics of epithelial tissue.
o ANSWER ✓ High cellularity with little matrix, covers surfaces/lines cavities, has an apical
(free) surface, attaches to a basement membrane, avascular, and has a direct nerve
supply .
22. Q: How is epithelial tissue classified?
o ANSWER ✓ By the number of cell layers (simple, stratified, pseudostratified) and the
shape of the cells at the apical surface (squamous, cuboidal, columnar) .
23. Q: Which type of epithelial tissue is best suited for diffusion and filtration, and where is
it found?
o ANSWER ✓ Simple squamous epithelium; found in lung alveoli and the lining of blood
vessels (endothelium) .
24. Q: You are looking at a tissue sample where all cells touch the basement membrane, but
not all reach the apical surface. What type of tissue is this?
o ANSWER ✓ Pseudostratified columnar epithelium .
