Course Description
BSC2085L – Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory is a 1-credit, laboratory-only course that provides the hands-on experimental and observational component of the first semester of the human anatomy and physiology sequence. Students conduct laboratory exercises coordinated with the companion lecture course BSC2085 (Human Anatomy and Physiology I), focusing on the structure and function of the cell, tissues, and the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, and special senses systems. Students use compound microscopes, anatomical models, charts, preserved specimens (typically including a sheep brain dissection), histology slides, and physiological measurement equipment.
The course sits within the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) under Biological Sciences > Biology and is offered at approximately 24 Florida public institutions. BSC2085L is structured as a standalone laboratory course taken with or after the BSC2085 lecture; the integrated alternative BSC2085C exists at some institutions. The two-semester anatomy and physiology sequence (BSC2085/BSC2085L + BSC2086/BSC2086L) is the foundational course set required by Florida nursing, dental hygiene, respiratory therapy, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapy assistant, paramedical, athletic training, and many other allied-health programs.
BSC2085L is designed for allied-health and pre-nursing students, not for biology majors. Biology majors typically take a different upper-division anatomy or physiology course (PCB3712 Animal Physiology, or specialized human anatomy courses). Anatomy and physiology courses do not typically count toward biology-major degree requirements at SUS institutions, though they may be accepted as electives.
Learning Outcomes
Required Outcomes
Upon successful completion of BSC2085L, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate proper use of laboratory equipment: compound and dissecting microscopes; anatomical models; reference texts; histology preparations; physiological measurement instruments.
- Apply anatomical terminology: directional terms; body planes and sections; body cavities and regions; standard anatomical position.
- Identify cellular structures using microscopy: prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; major organelles visible at light-microscope level.
- Identify the four basic tissue types: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue; identify representative subtypes via prepared histology slides.
- Identify the structures of the integumentary system: layers of the skin (epidermis, dermis, hypodermis); skin appendages (hair, nails, glands).
- Identify the major bones of the human skeleton: axial skeleton (skull, vertebral column, thoracic cage); appendicular skeleton (pectoral and pelvic girdles, upper and lower limbs); bone landmarks.
- Identify the major joints and joint movements; classify joints by structure and function.
- Identify the major skeletal muscles by name, origin, insertion, and action: muscles of the head and neck; trunk; upper limb; lower limb.
- Demonstrate basic muscle physiology at an introductory level: muscle contraction (often using physiological recording equipment with student volunteers).
- Identify the structures of the nervous system: brain (using sheep brain dissection or preserved human brain); spinal cord; cranial and spinal nerves; major divisions (CNS, PNS; somatic and autonomic).
- Conduct nervous system function exercises: reflex testing; sensory testing; introductory EEG concepts (where available).
- Identify the structures of the special senses: eye (using sheep or cow eye dissection); ear; receptors for taste, smell, and touch.
- Maintain a laboratory notebook, prepare laboratory reports, and follow proper laboratory safety practices, including bloodborne-pathogen awareness, proper handling of preserved specimens, and OSHA standards.
Optional Outcomes
Depending on instructor and institutional emphasis, students may also:
- Use physiological recording equipment (Vernier, BIOPAC, iWorx, ADInstruments) for muscle, nerve, and reflex measurements.
- Use computer simulations such as PhysioEx for physiological experiments not possible in the lab setting.
- Conduct fetal pig dissection or alternative dissection of selected systems (cat, sheep brain, sheep/cow eye, sheep heart in BSC2086L).
- Engage with case-study analysis applying anatomy and physiology to clinical scenarios relevant to allied-health practice.
- Conduct extended histology exercises with prepared microscope slides of organ tissues.
- Engage with 3D virtual cadaver software (e.g., Anatomy & Physiology Revealed, Visible Body).
Major Topics
Required Topics
- Anatomical Terminology and Body Plan: Directional terms (superior/inferior, medial/lateral, etc.); body planes (sagittal, frontal, transverse); body cavities; abdominal regions and quadrants; anatomical position.
- Cell Structure and Function: Microscope use; observation of cell types; major organelles visible at light-microscope level; mitosis stages.
- Histology — Tissues: Epithelial tissues (simple/stratified, squamous/cuboidal/columnar); connective tissues (loose, dense, adipose, cartilage, bone, blood); muscle tissues (skeletal, smooth, cardiac); nervous tissue.
- Integumentary System: Layers of the skin (epidermis with its strata; dermis with papillary and reticular layers; hypodermis); hair follicles; sweat and sebaceous glands; nails; cutaneous receptors.
- Skeletal System — Bone Tissue and Bones: Bone histology (compact and spongy bone; osteons); bone structure; bone identification — axial skeleton (skull bones, vertebral column, thoracic cage) and appendicular skeleton (clavicle, scapula, humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges, pelvis, femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges).
- Bone Markings and Joints: Major bone landmarks (processes, foramina, condyles, fossae); fibrous, cartilaginous, and synovial joints; types of synovial joints; joint movements (flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, rotation, etc.).
- Muscular System — Major Skeletal Muscles: Muscle histology (sarcomere structure visible at light-microscope level); identification of major muscles by name, origin, insertion, and action — head and neck; thoracic and abdominal walls; back; upper limb; lower limb.
- Muscle Physiology: Muscle contraction at an introductory level; (often using physiological recording for grip strength, reflexes, fatigue); the neuromuscular junction concept.
- Nervous System — Anatomy: Brain anatomy (cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem; major regions and structures) using sheep brain dissection or preserved human brain; spinal cord and meninges; spinal cord cross-sections; cranial nerves; spinal nerves and major plexuses.
- Nervous System — Function and Reflexes: Reflex arc; deep tendon reflexes (patellar, Achilles, biceps, triceps); sensory testing (two-point discrimination, temperature, pressure); cranial nerve testing.
- Special Senses: Eye anatomy (sheep or cow eye dissection); ear anatomy (external, middle, inner ear); chemoreceptors and mechanoreceptors at an introductory level.
- Laboratory Practice: Microscopy; histology slide identification; model identification; preserved-specimen identification; physiological measurement; lab report writing; lab practical exam preparation.
Optional Topics
- Fetal Pig or Cat Dissection (Pre-skin): Initial pre-dissection of whole specimens (extends through both BSC2085L and BSC2086L at some institutions).
- PhysioEx Computer Simulations: Physiological experiments via simulation software.
- BIOPAC, iWorx, or Vernier Recording: EMG (electromyography); reflex measurement; muscle fatigue; nerve conduction.
- Clinical Case Studies: Application of anatomy and physiology to nursing and allied-health scenarios.
- 3D Virtual Cadaver: Anatomy & Physiology Revealed; Visible Body; Complete Anatomy.
Resources & Tools
- Most-adopted lab manuals at Florida institutions: Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Manual by Elaine N. Marieb (Pearson) — by far the most widely-used; multiple custom and standard editions; Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Textbook, Essentials Version by Eder, Kaminski, Catena (McGraw-Hill); Hole's Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Manual.
- Companion lecture textbook (recommended): Human Anatomy & Physiology by Marieb and Hoehn (Pearson); Anatomy & Physiology by Saladin (McGraw-Hill); Hole's Human Anatomy & Physiology by Shier, Butler, Lewis (McGraw-Hill); OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e (free) — increasingly adopted.
- Computer simulation software: PhysioEx 9.1 / 10 (often bundled with Marieb manual); BIOPAC Student Lab; iWorx Labs; Vernier Logger Pro physiological probes.
- Online learning platforms: Mastering A&P (Pearson, paired with Marieb); Connect Anatomy & Physiology (McGraw-Hill); Anatomy & Physiology Revealed (3D virtual cadaver; McGraw-Hill).
- Laboratory equipment: Compound microscopes; preserved sheep brains; preserved sheep or cow eyes; preserved fetal pigs or cats (where used); anatomical models (skeleton, muscle figures, brain, eye, ear, skin); histology slides; reflex hammers; sensory testing kits; physiological recording systems.
- Reference and visualization tools: Visible Body (3D anatomy); Complete Anatomy; the National Library of Medicine's Visible Human Project; HHMI BioInteractive.
- Tutoring and support: Institution anatomy and physiology study sessions / SI (Supplemental Instruction) — A&P is one of the most heavily SI-supported courses at most Florida institutions.
Career Pathways
BSC2085L is the foundational first-semester lab in nearly every allied-health career pathway in Florida:
- Registered Nurse (RN, BSN, or ASN) — required by every Florida nursing program.
- Dental Hygienist (RDH) — Florida's dental hygiene programs at FSCJ, MDC, Valencia, and others.
- Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) and Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) — multiple Florida community college programs.
- Respiratory Therapist (RRT) — Florida community college and university programs.
- Radiologic Technologist, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Nuclear Medicine Technologist — Florida's healthcare imaging programs.
- Surgical Technologist, Medical Laboratory Technician, Paramedic / EMT — Florida's healthcare workforce pipeline.
- Athletic Trainer (ATC) — pathway through SUS programs.
- Physician Assistant (PA) — Florida PA programs (NSU, USF Morsani, FIU, UF, others) require BSC2085/2086 with lab.
- Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, Pre-Veterinary — A&P is often a recommended elective.
- Health and Human Performance, Exercise Science, Kinesiology — Florida programs.
Special Information
Articulation and Transfer
BSC2085L is part of the Florida common course numbering system and articulates seamlessly to all SUS institutions. The combination BSC2085 + BSC2085L typically satisfies the first-semester A&P requirement at every Florida nursing and allied-health program. A grade of C or higher is typically required for the course to satisfy program prerequisites; many competitive nursing programs require B or higher in the A&P sequence.
Position in the Allied-Health Curriculum
BSC2085L is the first of two semesters in the human anatomy and physiology sequence (BSC2085/BSC2085L + BSC2086/BSC2086L). The full sequence with lab is the foundational science requirement for nursing, dental hygiene, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapy assistant, respiratory therapy, radiologic technology, surgical technology, paramedical, and physician assistant programs throughout Florida.
BSC2085L vs. Biology Major Pathway
BSC2085 / BSC2085L is the allied-health-track anatomy and physiology course, focused on practical clinical applications. Biology majors at SUS institutions typically take different courses: PCB3712 (Animal Physiology), ZOO3713C (Vertebrate Zoology), or specialized human anatomy courses. The two pathways are not interchangeable: students in biology-major programs should not take BSC2085 unless their advisor specifies it.
Prerequisites and Co-requisites
Standard prerequisites vary widely. Some institutions list BSC1005 / BSC1005L or BSC1010C / BSC2010C (General Biology I) as a prerequisite; others require completion of any developmental biology, reading, or mathematics; many institutions allow direct entry to the A&P sequence. The standard co-requisite is BSC2085 (Anatomy and Physiology I lecture). BSC2085L generally cannot be taken without taking BSC2085 either previously or simultaneously.
Course Format and Workload
BSC2085L typically meets once per week for 2–3 hours. Expect 8–12 laboratory exercises across the semester, each requiring substantial pre-lab preparation (reading the lab handout, pre-lab quizzes, anatomical model study) and post-lab analysis. Out-of-class workload is typically 4–6 hours per week — A&P labs are memorization-heavy, requiring repeated study of model identification before lab practical exams. The skeleton, muscle, and brain practical exams are often considered the most challenging single tests in any first-year college course; serious preparation is essential.
Lab Practical Exams
Lab practical exams are a defining feature of BSC2085L: timed, station-based exams where students identify structures on models, specimens, and microscope slides under time pressure. Most institutions offer 2–4 lab practical exams across the semester. Success on these exams is one of the strongest predictors of success in subsequent nursing and allied-health coursework.
Course Code Variations
Florida institutions consistently use BSC2085L for this course. Some institutions offer the integrated BSC2085C (combining lecture and lab in a single 4-credit course); the standalone BSC2085L paired with BSC2085 is the most common format.