Tennessee Wesleyan College
Course Syllabus
I.
Course Number: B 384
Course Title: Vertebrate Anatomy and Development
Lecture Hours / Week: 3 (MWF 1:00 - 1:50am) 123 Fisher Hall
Laboratory Hours / Week: 3 (M 2:00 - 5:00pm) 123 Fisher Hall
Credit Hours: 4
II. Term, Year: Fall, 2011
Instructor: Mark A. Shoop
Office Location: 117 Fisher Hall
Telephone: 746-5315
Office Hours: MWF 10:00-11:00, TH 9:30 – 11:00am, and by appointment.
e-mail Addresses: shoop@twcnet.edu
or
mashoopphd@charter.net
III. Course Description: Vertebrate Anatomy and Development is a comparative study of anatomy and
embryonic development of vertebrates from both an evolutionary and functional perspective. Cat and
dogfish shark are dissected in the laboratory. The prerequisites for the course are successful completion of
General Biology I and II (B 171, 172).
IV. Course Goals and Objectives:
An education from Tennessee Wesleyan College is designed to enable the student to:
A. effectively use the communication skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening*;
B. be knowledgeable of religious beliefs and issues, the religious positions of others, and the choice
with which religion confronts them;
C. recognize the issues that affect social and political behavior in their historical and cultural
perspective;
D. demonstrate mathematical and basic computer skills, and demonstrate an understanding of the
scientific method*;
E. appreciate the contributions of the arts and literature of life enrichment;
F. choose physical activities which will enhance wellness.
*outcomes specific to this course
This course is designed to:
A. enable the student to acquire a knowledge of the anatomy of vertebrates and of the fundamental
developmental processes of vertebrates;
B. enable the student to understand the interrelatedness of different vertebrate groups by studying the
phylogeny of these groups;
C. improve critical reading and thinking skills;
D. further develop written and oral forms of communication.
V. Course Relationship to Major Program and Departmental or Institutional Purpose:
Vertebrate Anatomy and Development is designed for students pursuing degrees in Biology and may
satisfy prerequisites for professional schools.
VI. Relationship of this Course to Content Area Knowledge and Skills:
This course is to provide students with a/an:
A. understanding of the relationship between vertebrate form and vertebrate function;
B. knowledge of the evolutionary relationship of the various vertebrate groups;
C. understanding of the basic developmental processes of vertebrates
D. the ability to identify embryonic structures at various stages of development;
E. understanding of the structure of the vertebrate skeleton;
F. knowledge of vertebrate skeletal muscle structure and function;
G. knowledge of the vertebrate digestive system;
H. understanding of the structure of the respiratory system;
Biology 384
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I. understanding of the vertebrate heart, blood vessels and blood;
J. knowledge of the urogenital system;
K. understanding of neural structure, function, and the interaction of various parts of the vertebrate
nervous system for control of bodily functions;
L. understanding of the vertebrate endocrine systems.
VII. Text:
Kardong, KV. 2012. Vertebrates: Comparative Anatomy, Function, Evolution, 6th Edition. New
York: McGraw-Hill. 794p. ISBN 0-07-352423-9
Shubin, N. 2009. Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion Year History of the Human
Body. Vintage, New York. 256p. ISBN 978-0307277453
Laboratory exercises have been assembled from various sources by the instructor and are available
at www.twcnet.edu/shoop/.
VIII. Lecture Schedule: [I reserve the right to change this schedule as I deem necessary.]
Topic
Course Procedures and Policies
Concepts of Vertebrate Anatomy
The Phylum Chordata and the Protochordates
The Diversity of the Vertebrates
Lecture Exam 1
Early Vertebrate Development
The Integument: Epidermis and Dermis
Skeletons
Mineralized Tissues
Vertebrae, Ribs and Sterna
Skulls and the Visceral Skeleton
Appendicular Skeleton
Muscles
Lecture Exam 2
The Digestive System
Respiratory Systems
The Circulatory System
The Urogenital System
Kidneys and Urinary Bladders
Lecture Exam 3
The Nervous System
Endocrine Organs
Comprehensive Final Exam
Laboratory Schedule:
Date
Topic
Aug. 22
External Features and Skinning
Aug. 29
Skeletal Anatomy
Sep. 12
Muscles
Sep. 19
Muscles
Sep. 26
Nervous System Anatomy
Oct. 3
Laboratory Practical Exam 1
Oct. 10
Digestive, Respiratory, and
Urogenital Anatomy
Reading
The Syllabus
Pages 14 – 20
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
September 16
Pages 161 – 177; 191 – 195; 202 - 206
Chapter 6
Pages 181 – 189; 507 -508
Chapter 8
Chapter 7
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
October 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 14
November 11
Chapter 16
Chapter 15
1:30pm, Friday, December 2, 2011
Date
Oct. 17
Oct. 24
Oct. 31
Nov. 7
Nov. 14
Nov. 21
Nov. 28
Topic
Heart and Blood Vessel Anatomy
Blood Vessel Anatomy and Blood
Laboratory Practical Exam 2
Eggs and Early Development
24 Hour and 36 Hour Chicks
48 Hour Chick
Laboratory Practical Exam 3
Biology 384
Holidays (No Class)
Labor Day: September 5
Fall Break: October 13-16
Thanksgiving: November 23-27
3
Significant Dates
Midterm: October 5
Advisement: Oct. 31-Nov. 11
Assessment Day: November 15
Classes End: November 29
IX. Additional Readings: Readings will be assigned from Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin; these will be the
basis of class discussions about specified topics.
X. Methods of Instruction and Learning:
A. Lecture
B. Laboratory
C. Examinations
XI. Course Requirements and Means of Evaluation:
A. Course Requirements of Students:
Reading text assignments in preparation of lectures.
Reading assignments for class discussions
Completion of laboratory work.
Demonstration of knowledge of lecture and laboratory topics by examination.
B. Evaluation of Learning: There will be four written exams for lecture, three taken during the
assigned lecture periods and the fourth during the final exam week. These exams will con-centrate on
lecture material but may also include concepts presented in laboratory. The exam format will be
multiple choice, short answer and two to three essay questions. The first exam will constitute 10% of
the final grade; the next two exams will be worth 15% each and the comprehensive final will be worth
25% of the final grade. These exams will be used to assess the students’ effectiveness of
communication skills.
In laboratory, three practical exams will be given at the times specified. These exams will require the
student to identify particular anatomical structures and/or describe the function of these structures.
These exams will consist of multiple choice questions and constitute 20% of the final grade. An
additional 5% of the laboratory grade will be assigned based on the completion of specimen
dissection.
Discussion will account for 10% of the final grade. Class discussion will be the primary method by
which the student tries to understand the readings. A group of students will be assigned to lead the
discussions but all students must make an effort to participate in discussions. A quiz based on each
assigned reading will be given at the beginning of class and will contribute to the discussion grade.
C. Grading: Letter grades are based on the scale below.
100% - 93% = A
86% - 83% = B
76% - 73% = C
92% - 90% = A–
82% - 80% = B–
72% - 70% = C–
+
+
89% - 87% = B
79% - 77% = C
69% - 67% = D+
66% - 63% = D
62% - 60% = D–
<60% = F
D. Attendance and Make Up Policy: Class attendance is essential for success in this course since
exam questions come from the textbook, lecture notes, and laboratory work. Students are required to
attend all class meetings, including the laboratory and please arrive on time. No penalty shall be
imposed upon a student who accrues a number of unexcused absences less than or equal to the credit
hours of the course, which for Biology 384 is four (4) or fewer absences. A student who accumulates
a total number of absences exceeding four can be failed. Every two incidences of tardiness will equal
one absence.
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Sickness, a death in the family, or a college sponsored academic or sporting event will constitute
legitimate reasons for missing class or exams. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor
of these events. And it is the student’s responsibility to get notes for the missed class. Exams missed
for one of the above reasons must be taken within one week of returning to class; these exams may be
entirely essay and/or oral exams at the discretion of the instructor. Missed quizzes cannot be made-up.
E. Students’ Responsibilities
To be successful in this course, students must take an active role in their learning. This must go
beyond merely studying for exams and quizzes. If material is presented in lecture or laboratory that
the student has difficulty understanding, it is the student’s responsibility to let the instructor know of
this difficulty. The instructor will take the time necessary to explain or discuss the material with the
student(s) in an effort to make it understandable for the student.
The instructor asks questions of the class during lectures and laboratories. Students must make the
effort to answer these questions. This feedback is used by the instructor to gage the level of students’
comprehension, so the instructor may present information in a different way to aid in the students’
knowledge.
XII. Laboratory Experience: The laboratory section of this course meets for three hours per week.
It will emphasize anatomical structures and how these develop and evolved by the study of representative
vertebrates. Students will study preserved specimens and prepared microscope slides and some models and
charts that demonstrate gross and microscopic structures. It is from this material that exams will be
constructed.
XIII. Addendum:
It is expected that each and every student enrolled in this course will adhere to the Tennessee Wesleyan
College Honor Code as described in the Student Handbook. With a first infraction of the Honor Code, the
student will receive a 0% (zero) for that assignment and the infraction will be reported to the Vice President
of Academic Affairs. With a second infraction of the Honor Code the student will receive a failing grade
(F) for the course.
If a student has a disability that will require accommodation, the student must inform the instruct-tor, in
writing, on the first class day. This statement will need to note that a disability exists and what
accommodations are requested. The instructor will consider the request and inform the student of his
response before the end of the drop/add period. Failure to make such a request on the first day of class
constitutes acknowledgement that no disability exists and that no accommo-dation is needed or requested.
Cellular telephones should be turned off during all class meetings. If a student’s cellular telephone rings
during class, if a student attempts to make a telephone call during class, or if a student is found textmessaging during class, 10% will be deducted from the student’s highest exam grade. If a cellular
telephone rings during an exam 25% for that exam will be deducted from the grade for that exam. If a
cellular telephone call or text-messaging is attempted or a text-message is received during an exam, the
student will receive a grade of 0% (zero) for that exam and this will be considered an infraction of the
Honor Code.
XIV. Date of Preparation: 1 August 2011
By: Mark A. Shoop