NAMES: ___________________________________________ DATE: ________ PERIOD: ____

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY

GUMMI BEAR LAB

PRELAB INSTRUCTIONS:
A. Use your notes, textbook, or other source to define or describe the following terms:
1) Frontal (coronal) plane

2) Midsagittal plane

3) Parasagittal plane

4) Transverse (horizontal) plane

B. Use your notes, textbook, or other source to describe and distinguish among the following anatomical directions. Provide an
example sentence for each. Make sure your examples are different from the ones provided in your textbook or on the Anatomical
Directions handout.
1) Cranial
Sentence:
2) Caudal
Sentence:
3) Superior
Sentence:
4) Inferior
Sentence:
5) Anterior
Sentence:
6) Posterior
Sentence:
7) Lateral (right & left)
Sentence:
8) Medial
Sentence:

GUMMI BEAR LAB INSTRUCTIONS:

READ ALL DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE LAB.
This is a group lab: students will work in groups of 2 4 as directed by the instructor.
However, individual students are responsible for knowing the anatomical planes & anatomical directions presented in the lab.

Caution: razor blades are sharp & can cause injury if handled improperly.
(1) Obtain 1 lab sheet of construction paper, 1 scotch tape dispenser, 1 small paper plate, 1 razor blade, & 10 Gummi Bear
candies from the front lab counter.
(2) Using the razor blade as a scalpel & the paper plate as a cutting surface, carefully section 4 of the Gummi Bears using
these anatomical planes: (1) frontal; (2) midsagittal; (3) parasagittal; (4) transverse.
(3) Scotch-tape the sectioned Gummi Bears to a section of the lab sheet clearly labeled with the appropriate sectional
plane. Gummi Bears should be taped face forward (anatomical position) except for the back section of the frontally
sectioned bear. Also tape a whole (unsectioned) Gummi Bear face forward to the paper. Remember, neatness & the
stability of the taped Gummi Bears count!
(4) Use an ink pen to label (with arrows) anatomical directions on the sectioned Gummi Bears. Use the following formula:
1) Frontal plane sections: anterior & posterior
2) Midsagittal plane sections: right & left
3) Parasagittal plane sections: lateral & medial
4) Transverse plane sections: superior & inferior
(5) Use an ink pen to label (with arrows) the unsectioned Gummi Bear to show the cranial (cephalad) & caudal
(caudad) directions.
(6) Make sure that all the members of your lab group are listed at the top of the lab sheet under your group designation
(Group 1, Group 2, etc). Return the completed lab sheets to the appropriate area of the lab counter.
(7) Although eating is not usually allowed in class, you may reward yourself by eating whatever remains of your groups
Gummi Bears. Enjoy!
(8) Clean-up: Return your tape dispenser to the front lab counter. Place your used razor blade into the hot water bowl in
the front sink or dispose of it as directed. Throw the paper plates into the garbage can.

ANATOMICAL DIRECTIONS
(HUMAN BODY)
DIRECTIONAL TERMS

DEFINITION

EXAMPLE OF USAGE

LEFT

To the left of the body

or structure
To the right of the body
or structure
Toward the side; away from the
midsaggital plane
Toward the midsagittal plane; away
from the side
Toward the front of the body or
structure
Toward the back of the body or
structure
Along (or toward) the vertebral
surface of the body
Along (or toward) the belly surface
of the body
Toward the top of the body or
structure
Toward the bottom of the body or
structure
Toward or on the head

The stomach is to the left of the liver.

RIGHT
LATERAL
MEDIAL
ANTERIOR
POSTERIOR
DORSAL*
VENTRAL*
SUPERIOR
INFERIOR
CRANIAL+
(CEPHALAD)
CAUDAL+
(CAUDAD)
PROXIMAL**
DISTAL**
VISCERAL++
PARIETAL++
DEEP
SUPERFICIAL
MEDULLARY
CORTICAL

The right kidney is damaged.

The eyes are lateral to the nose.
The eyes are medial to the ears.
The nose is on the anterior of the head.
The heel is posterior to the toes.
The dorsal body cavity encloses the brain
& spinal cord.
The navel is on the ventral surface of the
body.
The shoulders are superior to the hips.
The stomach is inferior to the heart.
The neck is cranial to the chest.

Toward the tail

(coccyx in humans)

The shoulder blades are caudal to the

neck.

Toward the torso, point of

attachment, or point of origin
Away from the torso, point of
attachment, or point of origin
Toward an internal organ;
away from the wall of a body cavity
Toward the wall of a body cavity;
away from an internal organ
Toward the inside of the body
or an organ
Toward the surface of the body
or an organ
Refers to the inner region
of an organ
Refers to the outer region
of an organ

The knee is proximal to the ankle.

The knee is distal to the hip.
A visceral membrane covers the heart.
A parietal membrane lines the inside of
the body cavity.
The thighbone is deep to the surrounding
skeletal muscles.
The skin is superficial to the skeletal
muscles.
The medullary region of the kidney
contains the renal pyramids.
The cortical region of the brain contains
most of the association neurons.

In the human body, dorsal & ventral are equivalent to posterior & anterior, respectively.
Cranial & caudal are used for structures of the torso & head.
** Proximal & distal are used to describe locations in the limbs or along a body tract.
++
Visceral & parietal describe structures found within a body cavity.
+