536-206 Physiology (Optometry)

Enrolment into the second year of the BOptom course.

This subject:

• illustrates how body systems act and interact to maintain homeostasis, i.e. a constant internal environment;

• provides an understanding of cellular, subcellular and membrane structures and their importance in fluid distribution, functions of excitable cells (nerve and muscle), information transfer (electrical and hormonal) and metabolism; and

• demonstrates how organs and tissues interact leading to coordinated body function.

In particular, the subject matter covers:

• an introduction to cellular physiology covering the properties and characteristics of specialised cells such as neurones and muscle cells;

• how cellular specialisation results in hormonal, neural and organ systems subserving specialised body functions by studying organ function including the cardiovascular system, respiration, kidney function and gastrointestinal physiology;

• control mechanisms, the endocrine, paracrine, autocrine and neuronal processes, including an introduction to study of the brain and its regulatory processes; and

• a series of lectures focusing on how different processes integrate to sustain and modulate body function including control of the central nervous, respiratory, renal, reproductive, digestive, muscular, cardiovascular and haematological systems. Practical experiments will illustrate selected lecture material.

A 2.5-hour written examination at the end of semester and a component of ongoing assessment related to practical classes and computer-aided learning activities.