Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab Manual

Reviewed by Beverly Roeder, DVM, PhD, Adjunct Biology Professor, Quinsigamond Community College on 4/27/26

Comprehensiveness rating: 2 see less

This Anatomy and Physiology 2 Laboratory Manual, a Creative Commons (CC) Attribution, lacks scope and depth. It does not cover all areas and ideas appropriately for the subjects listed in the core content. The only information in the Introduction is a list of areas to be covered in eight lab sessions. No index or glossary is included. A study guide provides a breakdown of 30 multiple-choice questions on microanatomy, models, and experimental labs for each of the three course exams. Systems with "Anatomy" in the title have only two learning objectives that direct readers to use local resources to view the gross and microscopic anatomy of each listed structure. Except for the Endocrine structures, all other lists of anatomic structures for the other body systems are from another author via CC BY attribution. The "Anatomy" chapters do not use links to images or diagrams, and no illustrations, figures, pictures, or tables with summaries of major functions are present, nor are any review questions included. A highlighted Appendix is listed under Contents, but it only takes the reader to the Copyright © 2019 and licensure information.
Chapter 2, Blood Lab, and chapters with “Experiment" or “Dissection” in the title are modifications and remixes of content from OpenStax and other contributors, with attribution to OpenStax and via CC BY. Comprehensive learning objectives and text are present in Chapter 2, Blood Lab, and chapters with “Experiment" in the title. Although the Blood Lab text discusses formed blood elements and the percentages of plasma components, no summary of major functions for each constituent is included in tabular form, and there is no figure showing steps to obtain a blood sample via venipuncture and its components via centrifugation. Links to an OpenStax resource with information about each formed blood element and blood typing contain previously introduced information, and additional in-depth details, which should be left to a companion text for an anatomy and physiology II course, and not reiterated in a lab manual. Extensive information on microscope storage, components, and their use is included, which should have been taught in a lower-division biology course. The "Experiments" chapters are actually exercises with activities to perform common physiologic measurements. Good instructions with illustrations and figures, links to content from OpenStax and other contributors, and videos that demonstrate these procedures are included. The heart and fetal pig “Dissection” chapters, with modified content from other contributors via CC BY attribution, have very good color pictures of each step in the anatomical study of the included organs and organ systems.

Content Accuracy rating: 2

The lab manual lacks thorough written information required to assess accuracy and omits images, tables, and diagrams for clarity in each chapter studied. Instructions to the reader to use local resources to view the gross and microscopic anatomical structures should not be the only learning objectives. The dissection chapters, adapted from previously published sources, of an actual heart and fetal pig, contain accurate depictions of the anatomy being studied with high-quality color photographs and easy-to-follow directions. The content in the “Experiments” chapters on how to perform common physiologic cardiovascular and respiratory measurements is accurate, error-free, and unbiased.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 2

This lab manual requires extensive revision to be useful and relevant for students seeking careers in allied health professions programs. It needs to include learning objectives based on thorough written information. Images of gross anatomic features, illustrations, photomicrographs, tables, and diagrams are needed for students to understand and study the structural details of the microscopic and gross anatomy of each body system. Summaries with the major functions of structures should be included in tables, along with appropriate images, diagrams, and figures for each chapter. The list of anatomic structures to be studied in the "Anatomy" chapters could be handouts in a prerequisite anatomy II lab course.

Clarity rating: 2

The content included as modifications and remixes with attribution to OpenStax and via CC BY from other contributors is written in lucid, accessible prose and provides adequate context for any jargon/technical terminology used. However, in body system chapters with "Anatomy" in the title, learning objectives direct readers to use local resources to view the gross and microscopic anatomic structures, and there is no lucid, accessible prose, nor is there adequate context for any jargon/technical terminology used.

Consistency rating: 1

The text is internally inconsistent in terms of terminology and framework due to inadequate content.

Modularity rating: 2

The text included as modifications and remixes with attribution to OpenStax and CC BY from other contributors in the “Blood” and “Experiments” chapters is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course. However, in body systems chapters with "Anatomy" in the title, there is no written text that can be easily and readily divided into smaller reading sections to be assigned at different points within the course.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 2

The topics in the text are listed in a logical, clear fashion. However, in body systems chapters with "Anatomy" in the title, only a list of structures is included without accompanying text. The text in the “Experiments” and “Dissection” chapters is listed in a logical, clear fashion.

Interface rating: 2

The text in the “Experiments” and “Dissection” chapters is free of significant interface issues, including navigation problems, distortion of images/charts, or any other features that may distract or confuse the reader. In body systems chapters with "Anatomy" in the title, no images, diagrams, charts, or other features are presented.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors were noted in the text in the Blood Lab, “Experiments,” and “Dissection” chapters. In body systems chapters with "Anatomy" in the title, no grammatical errors were found in the list of structures to be studied, but no other written text was included.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Text included as modifications and remixes with attribution to OpenStax and CC BY from other contributors in “Blood” and chapters with “Experiments” in the title are not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way, and make use of some examples that are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. The “Dissection” chapters via CC BY attribution from other contributors are not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. In “Dissection” and the body systems "Anatomy" chapters, no examples inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds are presented.

No