536-301 Integrative Physiology: Heart & Kidney

Physiology 536-201, 536-211, and 536-202.

BBiomedSc students: 521-213 and 536-250.

The Head of Department will consider exemptions for students who passed 536-201 and 536-211.

This subject focuses on physiological control systems with an emphasis on cardiovascular, renal and endocrine homeostasis. Your studies will follow the programmed development of the cardiovascular system from gene to cell and organ. You will develop an understanding of how hearts, kidneys and hormones interact in a coordinated and integrated way to control blood pressure and fluid balance.

Cardiovascular and renal themes of study include principles of endocrine action; factors controlling heart and kidney growth and function; interaction of genetic and environmental influences; adaptations in pregnancy and human pathophysiology. You will also be introduced to experimental approaches and models in physiology and current controversies in heart, kidney and hormone research. Disturbances in physiological function will be studied to gain insight into the molecular and cellular bases of disease processes. These disturbances include hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy and arrhythmia, renal failure and pre-eclampsia.

In this subject, the lectures are supplemented with an integrated program of multimedia workshops and mentored sessions to accommodate a variety of learning styles. You will work together in small, interactive groups with an academic mentor to examine topical research issues and to evaluate experimental approaches and design. Assessment comprises both group contribution and individual work components by combining examination and assignment tasks.

A 1.5-hour end-of-semester examination, two written assignments (not more than 3000 words combined in total) and three multimedia tutorial reports.