PLEASE NOTE THAT this course was last taught in the fall of 2000 at Seton Hall University. 
PHYSIOLOGY

PHYSIOLOGY

Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems

Dr. Steven D. House

This course provides a comprehensive coverage of the physiology of cells, organs and organ systems with emphasizes on the underlying biophysical and biochemical principles of organ function. Organ systems will be considered from the standpoint of their regulation and role in the maintenance of homeostasis.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Course Outline - The lecture notes presented here are an outline and are not intended as the sole source of information for this class.  The textbook (Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems), the Web sites listed below and any additional readings provide the detailed material that you must master.  You should use the lecture notes as a "roadmap" to the textbook and all other material.

Goals and Objectives
Laboratory Schedule
FINAL GRADES AND EXAM #4
E-mail communications and answers to student question

Course Outline

TEXTBOOK:

Sherwood, L. Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems. Latest Edition, Wadsworth Publishing Company,

STUDENT WEB SITES:

Adnan Malik, Rick Mazza and Aleks Tamarkin (2000) - Creatine Supplementation and its Effects on Exercise Physiology
Ali Remakus and Amy Badway (2000) - Respiratory System - best viewed using Internet Explorer
Joanne Odiase and Charissa Pizarro (2000) - Muscular Dystrophy
Dae Han Kim, Lisa Hague and Alex Ljubomow (2000) - Alzheimer's Disease- best viewed using Internet Explorer
Kobena Dadzie, Angelina Perez, and Janice Carrero (2000) - Diabetes
Sachiko Brown and Michelle Ribeiro (2000) - Cystic Fibrosis
Kyle Keenan (1998) - Cardiac Cycle
Kyle Keenan (1998) - Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye (this is cool as can be!!!!!)
Malemba Ebama and Marina Cruz (1999) - Asthma
Alan Alto (1999) - Kidney Function and Renal Disease
Eda Angula, Alex Donneys, and Shen Wen Huang (1999) - Emphysema
Gopi Jhaveri, Sweta Parikh, and Niki Patel (1999) - Sickle Cell Anemia
Parin Patel and Faunda Campbell (1998) - Heart Attacks

IMPORTANT LINKS:

apsman.jpg (41534 bytes)  

American Physiological Society (APS) - lots of interesting sites, including: Neuron Simulation, Virtual Frog, etc

 
Examinations

Three examinations and a Final exam will be given, each contributing equally to the final grade (64% of total grade). The final exam will be a comprehensive exam, with 75% of the questions covering the material presented from Dec. 4  and 25% of the questions coming from previous material. Exams will be objective: multiple choice and short answer, with some essays. Exams will primarily cover material presented in lecture and in laboratories as well as information from the books and other readings. Note that there is no separate lab exam and thus this material will be covered in the lecture exams.

Students will be allowed to make up missed exams if and only if they are excused in advance or they can demonstrate that they were prevented from obtaining such an excuse by the cause of the absence (e.g., sudden illness, accident, etc.).   The latter must be presented and a make-up scheduled within 2 days of the exam or no make-up will be allowed.

Students will be required to write and orally present a paper on a particular area of physiology. There are many new and exciting areas of research in physiology. Select one article from the American Journal of Physiology or Journal of Applied Physiology (2001-current) on a specific topic you find interesting.  This will serve as your primary resource.  Additional reference material can come from other sources (Web, textbooks, articles, etc).  This project must be done with a partner (you share the work (research, writing, and presentation), hand-in 1 report and both get the same grade - only groups of 2 or 3 are allowed).    The paper must be 10-16 double-spaced computer printer pages - including figures and all necessary graphs - with a 15 minute presentation.  (I'm serious about the length of the paper and the presentation.).  The paper and the presentation must have an introduction, techniques, experimental design, results, discussion and conclusions (see handout for specifics - see example manuscript). All figures and tables must be redrawn and simplified using a computer program (Excel). All presentations must be done using Powerpoint.    Proposed topics must be approved by Oct. 25. Papers must be submitted by Nov. 15, oral presentations (including slides or overheads) will be scheduled for the laboratory period weeks of  Dec. 4 and 11. A pair of classmates  will be responsible for leading the discussion (ie. questions) of your oral presentation. The paper and oral presentation will count toward 16% of the final grade. 

An alternative to the journal paper and presentation is to create a Web page for a particular area of physiology.  The Web page, including text, graphs, links, sounds, movies, practice exams, etc., will be evaluated for quality, creativity and completeness.  Please see me regarding the details for this assignment if you elect to pursue this project.  You can work on this with a partner (or two) and you will be required to give an oral presentation.

The final 20% of the grade will be determined from class participation and laboratory work (4%-professor and TA evaluation) and from laboratory reports (16%). The latter must be completed for two exercises (6-10 double-spaced computer printed pages including figures and all necessary graphs- I'm serious about the length). These reports are assigned to give the student experience in the organization and treatment of experimental data, and to aid in the development of a clear, concise and logical approach to the writing of scientific reports (see handout for specifics). At least 1 laboratory report must be based on experimental data that you obtain from the computer program Quantitative Circulatory Physiology. Both laboratory reports must be done with a partner (you share the work, hand-in 1 report and both get the same grade - groups of 2 or 3 are allowed). All figures and tables must be drawn/constructed using a computer program (Excel).  The first lab report is due by October 18 and the second lab report must be handed in by December 6. The evaluations of your laboratory work will be based on your laboratory technical skills, organization, originality and creativity of carrying out the experiments, data recording skills and the general attitude you have toward the laboratories. This evaluation is not trivial and should be taken seriously. You must plan and execute your experiments like thinking scientists.

Guidelines for grading

Undergraduate students must attain a cumulative average of 90% or better over all material presented in this class to obtain an A. Other grades are: B+ (85-90%), B (80-85%), C+ (75-80%), C (70-75%), D+ (65-70%), D (60- 65%), F (less than 60%). 

The pursuit of knowledge in an academic community brings students and faculty together in an association of shared rights and responsibilities. Central to this association is an atmosphere of mutual trust and high ideals of honesty and integrity.

Students are expected to:

Sanctions:

First offense - Normally, not less than censure, a recommended "F" on the assignment and/or in the course (repeat rule not applicable), and an educational project assigned by the associate dean for academic affairs nor more than preliminary suspension from the university.

Second offense - Up to and including permanent separation from the university, and normally not less than disciplinary probation and suspension of social privileges.

Plagiarism Test : http://education.indiana.edu/~frick/plagiarism/item1.html

LABORATORY SCHEDULE Top of Page 
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSIOLOGY LABS and PREPARATION OF LABORATORY REPORTS AND SCIENTIFIC REPORT WRITING -- visit this site to learn how to prepare the papers
Date     Laboratory Exercise
Sept. 11 M Cell Membrane Permeability -------- Summary of Class Data
  18 M Nerve Physiology - Computer Lab
  25 M Human EMG and Human EEG 
Oct. 2 M Skeletal Muscle Lab; Computer (Handout), (You should read through this lab exercise before the exam on Oct. 2) 
  9 M Columbus Day
  16 M Cardiac Muscle Lab
  23 M Movie - The Cat; Human ECG
  30 M Cardiac-plethysmograph-Blood Pressure Lab  and Computer Laboratory - QCP Handout
Nov. 6 M Respiration Lab and Computer Laboratory - QCP Handout
  13 M Urine Analysis and Computer Laboratory - QCP Handout
  20 M Renal - Computer Laboratory - QCP Handout
  27 M Special Senses
Dec. 4 M Seminars, (Everyone is invited, even if it isn't your laboratory section.) 
  11 M Seminars, (Everyone is invited, even if it isn't your laboratory section.)
If you have questions you may contact me via E-mail at shouse@elon.edu

House's Home | Elon University  (sdh) last modified 10/04

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