BIO4063 - Systems Physiology

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

LO1 - Explain the structural and functional aspects of the circulatory, digestive, endocrine, musculoskeletal, nervous, renal, respiratory, and urogenital systems.

LO2 - Demonstrate an understanding of homeostasis by explaining the neuronal and endocrine control of the major systems, in both normal and pathological states.

LO3 - Outline the aetiology and pathophysiology of significant diseases affecting the major systems.

LO4 - Demonstrate technical skills regarding the acquisition and analysis of data regarding key haematological, immunological, and physiological systems.

LO5 - Describe the structural elements and functional mechanisms of the immune system, illustrating the differences between acute and chronic inflammation, as well as innate and acquired immunity.

LO6 - Demonstrate an understanding of developmental biology, embryonic development, and infertility.

Content:

This module provides you with an introduction to human anatomy and physiology. You will explore the structure and function of key body systems including musculoskeletal, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, renal, urogenital, nervous, and endocrine system. The regulation and inter-dependence between tissues and organs of the systems in health and disease is of particular focus. The hormonal and neurological control mechanisms for each system are covered, while also introducing the role of the immune system in safeguarding against infections and diseases. The fundamentals of developmental and reproductive biology, including infertility and embryology, are also included. In addition, you will cover the basics of haematology to provide a thorough foundation for progressing to level 5 and 6.

Practical sessions will contain a combination of both laboratory practical and sports laboratory experiments to cover a range of systems physiology, biochemistry, and microbiology experiments. The lecture and practical series will be supported by weekly tutorials in which you will examine a case study relating to the system you have been working on in lectures. Additionally, tutorials will explore current opinion pieces in healthcare covering topics such as Healthcare inequalities and disparities, ethical debates and controversial topics providing space for open discussions, formulating opinions and creating confidence and independence.

The content of this module has been mapped to the IBMS QAA Benchmark requirements for:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology: The structure, function, neurological and hormonal control of the human body; The major systems (musculoskeletal, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, renal, urogenital, nervous, endocrine) and their relationship to each other. Developmental biology, including embryonic development.

- Immunology: Acute and chronic inflammation, Structure, function, and mechanisms of action of the components of the immune system, Innate and acquired immunity.

- Cellular pathology: Reproductive science, including infertility and embryology.

- Clinical Biochemistry: Investigations of major body and organ systems - for example, renal function tests, liver function tests, tumour marker tests, bone profile tests; The principles and applications of biochemical investigations used for screening, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of disease.

- Clinical immunology: The causes and consequences of abnormal immune function, neoplastic diseases, and transplantation reactions together with their detection, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring.

- Haematology: The structure, function and production of blood cells; The regulation of normal haemostasis; Blood cell morphology - identification of normal white blood cells and common red blood cell abnormalities.

- Pharmacology: The importance of drug actions in the living organism for prevention and treatment of disease.

For syllabus content see the module handbook.

Learning and Teaching Information:

You will have 2 x 2 hr lectures (4 hr total) of contact time per week to cover the necessary content at sufficient depth to ensure you have a sound foundation of Systems physiology to proceed with levels 5 and 6.
A total of 10 x 2 hr practical sessions per week will be given to introduce you to key physiological, pharmacological, and immunology techniques.
A total of 10 x 1 hr tutorials per week (2 groups of 20 students) will be provided to support the lecture and practical content. These will include case studies, healthcare discussion topics, assessment support, and general wellbeing.

Lectures
Hours: 40
Intended Group Size: Full Cohort (40)

Practical sessions
Hours: 20
Intended Group Size: Full Cohort (40)

Tutorials
Hours: 10
Intended Group Size: Max 20

Guided independent study
Hours: 230

Further detail relating to assessment

Post-lecture, tutorial, and practical session activities submitted through Moodle will facilitate ongoing formative assessment opportunities via lecturer or peer feedback.

The laboratory competency tests will take place in the exam weeks of Semester 1. You will be given a set of practical tasks within the laboratory from this module, Cell Biology and Biomedical Skills module. Laboratory skills, including data analysis, will be assessed by the staff during the test with marks available for evidencing specific laboratory skills detailed in a marking scheme specific for the set tasks. There will be a mock laboratory competency test offered in advance of the final assessment to allow you to prepare for the end of Semester test.

The Systems and their diseases portfolio will be assigned at the start of semester 1. In each tutorial session, you will receive a case study related to the physiological system under discussion that week in the lecture, accompanied by a set of questions, data, and a diagrammatic representation of the system for annotation. A total of ten systems will be covered throughout the module which will form the portfolio of diseases. You are expected to respond to the questions through self-guided independent study and compile a portfolio of their completed work for submission at the end of the module.

You should refer to the Module Handbook for full details of marking criteria.

Assessment:

001 Laboratory competency test; 60 mins; End-semester 1 25%
002 Systems and their diseases portfolio; 3000 words; End-semester 1 75%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Kerrie Smith
Level - 4
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4S1

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