BMSC306 - Advanced Physiology

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

BIOL204 Human Body in Health and Disease 2 OR BIOL126 Human Biology 2

Unit rationale, description and aim

To join successful research teams and conduct high-quality research in the field of biomedicine, one must have the ability to follow and appraise relevant scientific articles, think critically, and demonstrate understanding of key concepts of the field. Neuro, renal, and gastrointestinal physiology are rapidly advancing areas of biomedical research, and BMSC306 provides in-depth discussion of the physiology of these systems. In BMSC306, students can explore neuronal communication; clinically important elements of the organization and function of the motor and sensory systems with emphasis on pain sensation and special senses; and the complex nature of cortical activity. Molecular aspects of renal function, and the intriguing, multifaceted interaction between the enteric, central, and peripheral nervous systems will also be discussed. BMSC306 has a clinically-oriented approach with relevance to molecular medicine and biomedical research. Clinical issues discussed include Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's diseases; cholera, botulism, tetanus, and various pH disturbances. BMSC306 builds heavily on earlier units that explained the basic anatomy and physiology of the systems discussed. The aim of this unit is to strengthen students' critical thinking skills; advance their understanding of the neuronal, renal, and gastrointestinal systems; and boost health literacy to enable students to join research groups working in these fields.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Explain the structure, organisation and function of nervous system, excretory apparatus, and gastrointestinal tract (GA4, GA5, GA8, GA9)

LO2 - Illustrate the impact of major pathologies affecting these organ systems on the function of the human body and outline clinically relevant treatment strategies that can cure, reverse, or manage these pathological conditions (GA4, GA5, GA8, GA9)

LO3 - Appraise current research aimed at diagnosing, preventing, treating, and managing pathological alterations affecting the nervous system, excretory apparatus, and gastrointestinal tract (GA4, GA5, GA8, GA9)

Graduate attributes

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

Content

Topics will include: 

• Graded and action potentials 
• Electrical and chemical synapses in the central and peripheral nervous systems 
• General sensory and somatosensory physiology 
• Characteristics, physiology, and clinical aspects of pain perception 
• Spinal and supraspinal control of movements 
• Vision 
• Hearing 
• Chemical senses 
• The sense of balance 
• Higher brain functions (EEG, evoked potentials, learning, memory, and consciousness) 
• Glomerular filtration 
• Tubular transport mechanisms 
• Osmo- and volume regulation 
• pH balance and pH disturbances 
• Endocrine and metabolic functions of the kidneys 
• Structure and function of the enteric nervous system 
• Regulation of gastrointestinal function 
• Motor functions of the gastrointestinal apparatus 
• Secretory functions of the gastrointestinal apparatus 
• Absorption from the gastrointestinal tract 
• Liver as an organ 

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Advanced Physiology uses active learning to help students understand the function of the neuronal, excretory and gastrointestinal systems. Students will be provided with weekly lectures, where their questions, active participation, and feedback are encouraged. Lectures help students acquire the fundamentals of the physiological functions, morphological basis, and significance of all major phenomena taught.

Students are encouraged to attend and participate in weekly workshops. These workshops serve to both assimilate and apply the knowledge relevant to the given week's topic learning objectives. These activities provide the opportunity for discussion of several challenging concepts, relate structure to function, problem-based learning, case studies, group work, and peer learning. Workshops also help students to review, recall and reinforce key concepts.

Assessment strategy and rationale

A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to demonstrate achievement of each learning outcome. There are ongoing (weekly) formative assessments to provide immediate feedback about students’ learning and three summative assessments.

In order to pass this unit, students are required to achieve a final grade of 50% or better as an aggregate score of all points from the assessment tasks completed in this unit.

Formative assessment—i.e., online quizzes

The online quizzes assess discipline knowledge and critical thinking skills and provide regular feedback on students’ progress.

Summative assessments

Assignment 1 is a quiz that has two parts (part A and part B). This task assesses students’ factual knowledge, understanding of the learning material, and critical thinking skills.

Assignment 2 requires students to submit a case study. This assessment task requires students to reflect on the learning material, utilize their advanced critical thinking skills, showcase their written communication skills, and their ability to search, access, and critically evaluate scientific information.

Assignment 3 is the final written assessment task on BMSC306, where students are required to design, create, and submit an examination paper that could be used to assess achievement of all learning outcomes of the unit. This assessment task requires students to exploit their creativity, demonstrate their advanced critical and communication skills, and reflect on the learning material of BMSC306.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Bear M. F., Connors B. W., Paradiso M. A. (2007). Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain (3rd ed.). Lippincott Williams Wilkins. ISBN 9780781760034.

Boron W. F., Boulpaep E. L. (2016). Medical Physiology (3rd ed.). Elsevier. ISBN 9780323427968.

Hall J. E., Hall M. E. (2020). Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology (14th ed.). Elsevier. ISBN 9780323597128.

Herlihy B. (2017). The Human Body in Health and Illness (6th ed.). Elsevier. ISBN 9780323498449.

Johns P. (2014). Clinical Neuroscience: An Illustrated Colour Text. Elsevier. ISBN 9780443103216.

Nicholls J. G., Martin A. R., Fuchs P. A., Brown D. A., Diamond M. E., Weisblat D. (2011). From Neuron to Brain (5th ed.). Sinauer Associates. ISBN 978-0878936090.

Purves D., Augustine G.J., Fitzpatrick D., Hall W. C., LaMantia A-S., Mooney R. D., Platt M. L., White L. E. (2017). Neuroscience (6th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9781605353807.

Silverthorn D. U. (2018). Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach (8th ed.). Pearson. ISBN 9781292259543.

Sherwood L. (2015). Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems (9th ed.). Cengage Learning. ISBN 9781285866932.

West J. B., Taylor N. B. (2011). Best and Taylor's Physiological Basis of Medical Practice (13th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9788184731927.