Biol. 129 : Human Anatomy : Fall 2010
Instructor
Dr. John Waters
Office Phone
863-1154
Office Address 413 Mueller
Office Hours
The lab TAs hold office hours every Friday in room 412 Mueller Laboratory. You
can go to any TA's office hour. Specific office hours are now listed under the Lessons
tab.
Dr. Waters' Office Hours are 2:15-3:15 Monday through Thursday. Please note: You
do not need to make an appointment to come to the regular office hours listed above.
You can just show up in my office at any of the times listed above, Monday through
Thursday.
E-mail
johnwaters@psu.edu
Required Text
This text is NOT optional. I suggest that you purchase a new copy rather than a used copy, because
you will be filling out exercises in the text.
Anatomy Coloring Book (3rd ed.)
by Wynn Kapit and Lawrence Elson
2002 Benjamin Cummings
Suggested Text
Please note that the textbook below is only suggested. Some students benefit from having a textbook
to refer to, while others do not use textbooks at all. I do not know you well enough to tell you what is
best for you, so take a little time to consider how you have used textbooks in the past. If you have
found them helpful, or if you are worried about keeping up in this course, then it is a good idea to have
a textbook. However if you have found yourself buying textbooks and never ever reading them, then
you may be a person that can do without the text. All of the material that I will test you on WILL be
covered during class. There will be no questions on any material that was straight from the textbook
and not covered anywhere else.
As you decide on whether or not to purchase the textbook below, I would also like you to consider your
reasons for taking this course. Most of you are probably required to take this course for your major. If
that is the case, then the faculty in your department probably believe that at some point in your career,
you will be in a position to give another person advice about the function or health of the human body.
In that case, I suggest that you purchase the textbook because it can serve as a valuable reference for
you not only this semester, but later in your career as well. You are here at Penn State to receive an
education in a field that interests and excites you; it is very reasonable for an educated person to have
a personal library of reference material. I think the text I recommend below would be an excellent
addition to your library.
Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology (8th ed.)
by Martini and Nath
2009 Benjamin Cummings
Alternate texts
If you already own or prefer to use another good anatomy and physiology text, such as:
an earlier edition of Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology, by Ric Martini
Anatomy and Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function, by Ken Saladin (any edition)
Human Anatomy & Physiology, by Elaine Marieb (any edition)
you can use that one instead. The Martini and Nath text mentioned above is recommended in Dr.
Malcos's Biol. 141 lecture. The text by Marieb is recommended by Mr. Steward in his evening Bio 141
section. If you are in both my course and Mr. Steward's course, you may use whatever text you want
(Dr. Malcos, Mr. Steward, and I have discussed this). You do NOT need to purchase more texts,
but be sure that if you do purchase one text, that it is an anatomy and physiology text. Please
note that the things you see in lecture tend to be customized somewhat to the particular textbook the
instructor chooses. I do not think this is a major issue and I suggest you choose the text that
personally suites you best, but I want you to be aware of it.
Course Description
Anatomy is the branch of biology that focuses on the structural organization of living organisms or the
study of form. Its literal meaning is "to cut apart" (ana=apart, tom=cut) or to dissect, which it the
most common way of studying anatomy. People have observed the internal anatomy of human beings
and other organisms since pre-history, and many different cultures (Egyptian, Asian, Persian, and
European) have contributed to the history of anatomy as a science. In this class, we will be using a
combination of techniques to study human anatomy. Lecture will cover the major body systems,
starting with the integumentary (skin) system and finishing with the nervous system. Lab will
complement our studies in lecture with hands on experience like examining bones, modeling clay
muscles, and dissecting sheep brains. Our goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the human
anatomy on both a histological (cellular) and gross anatomical scale.
Tentative Schedule
Lecture Schedule
Week
Topic
Coloring Book Pages
(Optional)
1
Aug. 23-27
Introduction
Integumentery System
1-7
10, 11, 18, 19
2
Aug. 30- Sept.3 Integumentery System continue
Skeletal System
3
Sept. 6-10
No lecture on Mon, AND
No labs on Mon or Tues due to Labor Day
12, 14, 20
Skeletal System continued
4
Sept. 13-17
Muscular System
Lab Exam 1-Thurs. (Sept. 16)
13, 14, 44, 45
5
Sept. 20-24
Digestive System
136, 139-143
6
Sept. 27-Oct. 1 Monday, Sept. 27: Lect. Exam 1
Digestive System
see above
7
Oct. 4-8
Cardiovascular System
101-106
8
Oct. 11-15
Cardiovascular System
Lab Exam 2-Thurs. (Oct. 14)
see above
9
Oct. 18-22
Respiratory System
129, 133, 134
10 Oct. 25-29
Urinary System
146-150
11 Nov. 1-5
Monday, Nov. 1: Lect. Exam 2
Endocrine System
151-153
12 Nov. 8-12
Endocrine System
Lab Exam 3-Mon. (Nov. 8)
Fri., Nov. 12: Late Drop Deadline
see above
13 Nov. 15-19
Reproductive System
157-159
160-162
Nov. 22-26
No class: Thanksgiving break
14 Nov. 29-Dec. 3 Nervous System
70-72
15 Dec. 6-10
78-79
Finals Week
Nervous System
Lab Exam 4-Thurs. (Dec. 9)
Lecture Exam 3
Laboratory Schedule
Week
Topic
Coloring Book Pages
(Highly
Recommended/Required)
1
Aug. 23-27
Introduction
and begin Skull
1-7, 21
24, 25, 26
2
Aug. 30- Sept. 3 Axial Skeleton
Appendicular Skeleton
3
Sept. 6-10
No labs on Mon or Tues AND
No lecture on Mon due to Labor
Day
Appendicular Skeleton continued
(Wed and Thurs.)
23, 27-30
31, 33, 35
37-42
4
Sept. 13-17
Review (Mon. & Tues.)
- Lab Exam 1-Thurs. (Sept. 16evening)
- Labs canceled on Wed. and
Thurs.
36, 43
5
Sept. 20-24
Muscular System
45, and review 23
48-51
6
Sept. 27-Oct. 1
Muscular System
54-58
7
Oct. 4-8
Muscular System
61-66
8
Oct. 11-15
Review (Mon. & Tues.)
- Lab Exam 2-Thurs. (Oct. 14 evening)
- Labs canceled on Wed. and
Thurs.
60, 68, 69
9
Oct. 18-22
Digestive and Respiratory System
Heart and Circulatory System
136, 137, 139,140, 129,
131-134
102, 105, 107, 108
10 Oct. 25-29
Circulatory System
110-114, 116-119
11 Nov. 1-5
Circulatory System
Review
110-114, 116-119
115, 120
12 Nov. 8-12
- Lab Exam 3-Mon. (Nov. 8 evening)
- Labs canceled on Mon. and
Tues.
Urinary and Reproductive Systems
(Wed. & Thurs.)
146, 148, 157-159, 160-162
Fri., Nov. 12: Late Drop Deadline
13 Nov. 15-19
Reproductive System continued
Nov. 22-26
14 Nov. 29-Dec. 3
No class: Thanksgiving break
Nervous System
73-77, 80-84
15 Dec. 6-10
Review (Mon. & Tues.)
- Lab Exam 4-Thu. (Dec. 9 evening)
- Labs canceled on Wed. and
Thurs.
Grading Policy
Three Lecture Exams (Multiple Choice, 50 points each) = 150 pts.
Four Laboratory Exams (practicals, 50 pts each) = 200 pts.
The cut-offs for each grade are listed below. Please note that the lowest A grade is if you earn 92% of
the points. The lowest A- grade is if you earn 90% of the points, the lowest B+ grade is if you earn
88% of the points, etc.. There is no "rounding up". For instance, if you earn 89.6% of the points,
you are still below the 90% cut-off for an A-, so your grade would be a B+.
A = 92%, A- = 90%, B+ = 88%, B = 83%, B- = 80%,
C+ = 78%, C = 70%, D = 60%, F < 60%
If the class mean is below 75%, then grades will be assigned with the mean being a “C” and the
standard deviation used to guide the assignment of the other letter grades.
Attendance Policy
I do not take attendance, but I assume that you are coming to class. If you must miss a lecture or lab
because of illness or a personal emergency, you are still responsible for the material covered that day.
The TAs and I will not review or summarize material you may have missed. You are responsible for all
assigned material as well as the information covered in the lecture and lab.
Travel Plans, Medical Appointments, and other responsibilities during the semester and finals
week:
It is important for all students to understand that this course runs the entire semester
and that a final will be scheduled during finals week (final exam schedules are available
at elion.psu.edu during the fifth or sixth week of the semester). Do NOT make travel,
medical, or any other plans that interfere with any of the laboratory or lecture exams.
Please communicate this to your parents if necessary. Make up exams will not be
administered because someone else made a reservation or appointment for you.
Exam Policy
The exams will primarily cover the material presented in lecture, but may also include some questions on other assigned
material. The four laboratory exams (practicals) will cover the material you have been studying in the labs.
If you miss an exam, you will receive a score of “0” points. A make-up exam will be administered only if I excuse the
absence beforehand. Documentation in the form of a note from Health Services, receipts, etc. may be necessary. Please
speak with me ahead of time about acceptable documentation.
Please note: Make-up exams, conflict exams, and exams given under other special circumstances must often be hand
graded. If you are allowed to take such an exam, there is a chance that it will not be graded until the end of the semester.
Academic Integrity
Academic dishonesty is not limited to simply cheating on an exam or assignment. The following is
quoted directly from the "PSU Faculty Senate Policies for Students" regarding academic integrity and
academic dishonesty: "Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and
deception and is an educational objective of this institution. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not
limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic
dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another
person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work
of other students."
In this course, "tampering with the academic work of other students" includes using their anatomy
models without permission, as well as removing structures from, or altering another student's anatomy
model in any way. Since tampering with the academic work of other students affects other students'
grades, such behavior may be treated by an anatomy faculty member as anything from a minor offense
to major offense according to Penn State's Sanctioning Guidelines for Academic Integrity Violations
(http://www.psu.edu/dept/oue/aappm/G-9.pdf). If the faculty member (your TAs and I) believe that
another student's grade was jeopardized, the minimum recommended sanction is an F for the course.
If the action seems especially malicious to us, then the guideline recommends referral to the Office of
Judicial Affairs where they will consider assigning an XF (disciplinary F grade) for the course. Your TAs
and I expect everyone in the course to respect one another's work. Anyone failing to do so, or failing to
follow course policies or TA's instructions, can expect to be sanctioned.
All University and Eberly College of Science policies regarding academic integrity/academic dishonesty
apply to this course and the students enrolled in this course. Refer to the following URL for further
details on the academic integrity policies of the Eberly College of Science: http://www.science.psu.edu
/academic/Integrity/index.html. Each student in this course is expected to work entirely on her/his
own while taking any exam, to complete assignments on her/his own effort without the assistance of
others unless directed otherwise by the instructor, and to abide by University and Eberly College of
Science policies about academic integrity and academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty can result in
assignment of "F" by the course instructors or "XF" by Judicial Affairs as the final grade for the student.
Miscellaneous
How to earn a good grade in this course:
Students often ask me how to improve their course grade. Based on more conversations than I can
count, I wrote a letter to my students describing the best (and only) way I know to do well in a difficult
course. That letter is posted for you under the Lessons tab on the Angel web site. Please read it over
before the next class.
Some general notes about the course:
If you have a question during lecture, please do not hesitate to raise your hand. Out of courtesy to your
classmates and instructor, please do not engage in private conversation during class time. If you carry
a cell phone, please turn the ringer off. You are not allowed to use cell phones (even just to check
text or voice messages) in class. NO electronic equipment may be used during a test unless specifically
authorized by the instructor.
I will be posting class material on Penn State's ANGEL course management system
(www.angel.psu.edu) and sending email to your Penn State email account. It is YOUR responsibility to
make sure your computer and email accounts are functional. Due to university regulations regarding
the privacy of student records, I will not send course email to a non-Penn State email address.
However, you can set your Penn State email account to automatically forward your email to a non-Penn
State email account yourself (go to https://www.work.psu.edu/cgi-bin/util/forward.cgi). Please note:
If your computer access is suspended for any reason (because you have not paid your bill, or if your
mailbox becomes full and you do not receive my emails) then you may miss important course
information. Assuming you are still a student in this course, these are NOT acceptable excuses to miss
class, assignments, tests, or any other required portion of the course. I realize that computer networks
occasionally go down. As long as Penn State's network is functional sometime between 48 and 24
hours prior to a test or assignment, I will assume you had a fair chance to access any resources you
need (many Penn State network systems such as ANGEL are unavailable from approximately 5 am to 7
am every morning). This means that if Penn State's network goes down 24 hours or less before an
assignment or test, then the due dates will NOT change. Since all students have access to Penn State's
computers, any failures of other network systems such as AOL or Verizon are also not acceptable
excuses. Please do not put things off until the last day.
If you are in any situation or are having any problem that is preventing you from performing to your
full potential, please see me immediately. It is much easier to find solutions earlier rather than later. If
necessary, I can provide you with referrals to other resources available to you. Unfortunately, students
often wait until they fail an exam or until the last part of the course to speak with their instructors, and
by then it is usually too late to change a grade or make much of a difference. Please come to see me if
you need any assistance.
If there is some extenuating circumstance in your life that results in an unusually low exam score,
please see me no later than one week after you receive your test score. It is your responsibility to
notify me of any circumstances that are affecting your grade.
If there are any changes to the syllabus, I will post an announcement on the course web site and try to
make an announcement in class. You are responsible for keeping up to date on all course
announcements.
A few notes about the laboratory:
Attendance in lab is mandatory. Plan on arriving a little early, getting to work as soon as class begins,
and staying for the entire period. If you come to lab late or leave early, you will miss material that is
presented by your laboratory instructor. If you must arrive to lab late, leave early, or miss the lab
period entirely, inform your laboratory instructor ahead of time. In the case of excused absences that
have been approved by your laboratory instructor and the laboratory coordinator ahead of time, it may
be possible to make up at least a portion of the work.
Use your lab time efficiently. You are not allowed to take specimens home nor to work on specimens
outside of your regularly scheduled lab time (with the exception of the four open labs - see below).
Your instructor will describe the laboratory exams (also called “practicals”) to you. Remember that to
identify 90% of the structures correctly on a lab exam, you must know the material well enough to
teach it. If you have extra time during a lab period, spend that time quizzing each other (you will only
have 45 seconds to identify each structure during a lab exam) or begin the next dissection. Remember,
your TA is there to help, but you and your lab partners will teach yourselves most of what you learn in
the laboratory.
Study outside of class. Complete the exercises in your lab book before you come to lab. Use your lab
time to work with the specimens and identify each structure. After lab, make sketches of the relative
positions of each structure. You don’t have to be an artist to do this. Drawing and labeling simple
triangles, squares, ovals. etc. for each structure on a “stick figure” will be better practice than staring
at your lab book over and over. When you get to the point that you can draw and label each structure
from memory, you are probably prepared for a lab exam.
Take advantage of office hours. You can attend any scheduled office hour. While you may not have
access to own specimen, you are allowed to work with the instructor and the specimen that he/she is
using. Try teaching the structures to the instructor. This is a very effective way to discover what you do
and do not know. You can also ask the instructor to quiz you. You must reach the point that you can
identify any structure in less than 45 seconds.
Bring your own gloves for working with preserved specimens. When working with any preserved
specimen (cat dissections or individual organs) you will want to use a pair of “waterproof” gloves to
protect your skin from contact with the preservatives. Reusable latex dish gloves work fine, but some
people prefer to use disposable latex “surgical” gloves (however this option will probably be more
expensive than reusing the sturdier dish gloves). Gloves can be purchased in some of the bookstores,
but tend to be cheaper in the large discount stores (boxes of disposable surgical can sometimes be
found with first-aid supplies).
Dissection instruments will be provided.
Attend open lab and office hours if your schedule permits. Open labs will usually be held the Friday
before each exam and you may attend a portion of it, or the whole thing. This is the only time that you
are guaranteed time to work with your own specimens outside of your regularly scheduled lab period. A
laboratory instructor will be available during open labs, but depending on the demands placed on the
instructor’s time by the other students, you may not get a chance to speak with the instructor (this is
why it is so important to use your regular laboratory time efficiently). It is usually best to work with
some of your classmates during open lab.
Please realize that open lab periods are something that is being offered “above and beyond” your
regular instruction. The open labs are scheduled in blocks of 4-5 hours and we will let you know the
times as far in advance as possible. However, in large courses such as this it is impossible to
accommodate every student’s personal schedule. The open labs will be offered at the times announced.
If it is impossible for you to attend at these times, it becomes even more important to use your regular
lab time efficiently and to practice with one of the laboratory instructors during office hours.
If you have any questions or concerns about any of the points discussed here, or anything else
regarding the laboratory portion of this course, please feel free to call, send me an email, or stop by my
office.
If you have any questions, please contact Angel Support