Gummy Bear Lab
Gummy Bear Lab
Gummy Bear Lab
2) Midsagittal plane
3) Parasagittal 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:
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
RIGHT
LATERAL
MEDIAL
ANTERIOR
POSTERIOR
DORSAL*
VENTRAL*
SUPERIOR
INFERIOR
CRANIAL+
(CEPHALAD)
CAUDAL+
(CAUDAD)
PROXIMAL**
DISTAL**
VISCERAL++
PARIETAL++
DEEP
SUPERFICIAL
MEDULLARY
CORTICAL
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.
+