536-202 Physiology (General Practical)

Not available for students enrolled in BBiomedSc.

This is a practical subject. Students enrol separately for the lecture subject 536-201 Principles of Physiology.

Students must attend the department to enrol. Web-generated personal timetables are a guide only, and do not enrol students in a practical session. Students must enrol between 9.00am and 4.00pm during the week prior to the start of semester. The enrolment location is in the Physiology Teaching Laboratory, Room N306 (Level 3, North Wing) Medical Faculty Building. The size of each session group is restricted. Early enrolment with a full preference list from the available practical class sessions is advisable. Students unable to attend in person must make arrangements with someone else to enrol for them.

Experiments involving the use of animals are essential to this subject; exemption is not possible.

Students must have a white laboratory coat and closed footwear to comply with safety regulations. Also required are dissecting instruments, two note books (No. 536 from the University Bookroom) and the free laboratory manual obtained from the Physiology Teaching Laboratory, Room N306 (Level 3, North Wing) Medical Faculty Building.

536-201 Principles of Physiology

This course will enable students to develop an understanding of experimental design appropriate for revealing the underlying mechanisms of physiological responses. This course will use the latest computer-based recording systems to investigate the biological responses to various challenges.

Experiments may include investigations on nerve communication, muscle contraction, blood pressure, electrocardiograms, respiration and maintenance of body fluids. The format of the subject allows every experimental topic to be covered in depth over a three-week cycle. This comprises (i) a preparatory session, (ii) the experimental session, and (iii) a discussion workshop session, based on the underlying theory and approaches for experimental design.

Being a practical subject it is very skills orientated. Individual skills will include devising experimental physiological methods, keeping accurate records of procedures undertaken, data analysis and using problem-solving skills, writing clear and concise reports, developing physiological laboratory practices (including safety, ethics) and skills (tissues or whole organisms).

Group skills include working collaboratively, group communication and information presentation.

Continuous report writing (5 reports of 6-8 pages) 40%; class participation 5%; continuous reports from workshops (5 reports of two pages) 15%; a 1.5 hour end-of-semester examination 40%.