536-201 Principles of Physiology

Not available for students enrolled in BBiomedSc.

Students seeking a thorough understanding of physiology at second-year level, and seeking entry into third year physiology, will take this subject in combination with 536-211 Physiology:Control of Body Function in Semester 2. This lecture combination, together with the practical subject 536-202 Physiology (General Practical), forms the basic requirements for selection into third year physiology (see 300-level subjects)

This subject contains computer-aided learning sessions. Students must attend the department to enrol in the available sessions between 9.00am and 4.00pm during the week prior to the start of Semester 1. The enrolment location is in the Physiology Teaching Laboratory, Room N306 (Level 3, North Wing) Medical Faculty Building.

Two pairs of subjects from: biology (650-141 and 650-142, or prior to 2004: 600-141 and 600-142); chemistry (610-141 and 610-142, or 610-121 and 610-122); physics (640-121 and 640-122, or 640-141 and 640-142; or 640-161 and 640-162); psychology (512-120 and 512-121); mathematics (two of 620-112, 620-113, 620-121, 620-122, 620-123, 620-141, 620-142, 620-143 and 620-160).

Physiology is an integrative study of the control of normal body function. Following completion of this subject students should be able to comprehend how the body systems act and interact to maintain a constant internal environment (homeostasis). Students should also be able to describe and understand the function 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. Students should also develop an understanding of basic cellular physiology as it pertains to all cell types as well as the properties and characteristics of specialised cells such as neurones and muscle cells. Students should also be able to comprehend how such cellular specialisation results in hormonal, neural and organ systems subserving specialised body functions. The specialised organ systems to be studied include the cardiovascular, respiratory gastrointestinal and kidney systems. During this course students should also learn that physiology is an experimental science with many key concepts arising from the qualitative and quantitative observation and analysis of living organisms. In the computer-aided learning sessions associated with this course, students will work in groups on a variety of tasks which should help develop and enhance skills related to team work, analytical reading and the ability to communicate information both concisely and unambiguously (written and verbal).

A 45-minute mid-semester examination (15%); a 2-hour end-of-semester written examination (75%); tasks related to computer-aided learning activities (10%)