536-029 Physiology (Dental Course)

Note

Credit Points

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject covers: principles of physiological integration; the interface between tissue cells and the internal environment; biophysics of excitable and contractile tissue; the physiology of mammalian organ systems: circulation of blood, respiration, electrolyte balance, digestion and absorption, sensation and movement; and the coordination of bodily functions by hormonal and neural mechanisms.

On completion of this subject, students should:

Comprehend: the terminology of physiology; the principles and essential information regarding the functions of different cell types and how they interact in organ systems; the mechanisms by which these different organ systems are controlled in the normal human being; the normal numerical values for those physiological variables that are commonly used as indices of disease.

Have developed: observational and organisational skills to use experimental techniques in investigating physiological systems and document the findings reliably; skills in analysing and evaluating physiological experimental data.

Appreciate: the ranges of normality for physiological parameters; the factors which influence the significance of results obtained from investigating physiological factors.

Assessment

(A) One 2-hour written examination at the end of Semester 1 (approx. 40%); (B) One 2-hour written examination at the end of the year (approx. 45%); and (C) Assignments related to laboratory classes/demonstrations/lecture course, and assessment of the practical note book (approx. 15%). The exact relevant loading of the different factors fixed for assessing the student's understanding of physiology will be outlined at the beginning of the year and indicated in the laboratory manual.

Prescribed Texts

• Berne R M and Levy M N 1996, Principles of Physiology. 2nd ed. Mosby.
  or
  Sherwood L 1993, Human Physiology from Cells to Systems. 2nd ed. West.