| CODE | PHB1500 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Human Physiology | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Physiology and Biochemistry | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will present Human Physiology as the central life science which essentially describes the study of the normal functioning of the human body. As such, the discipline of physiology includes the study of body systems at multiple levels, from molecular and cellular biology to tissues and organs. The principle systems are: blood and immune system; cardiovascular system; respiratory system; gastrointestinal system; renal system; endocrine system; reproductive system; nervous system; and musculoskeletal system. Traditionally, physiology courses are organized according to these organ systems. However, in reality, organ system functions integrate into the larger whole organism – what is called integrative physiology. A key aspect of integrative physiology is the study of how, in a healthy human being, a large number of variables (such as blood pressure, urine output, body temperature, and hormone levels, to name a few) are kept tightly within narrow limits even in face of adverse environmental changes. This is known as homeostatic regulation. Although the ultimate goal of a physiology study-unit is to explain the behavior of the whole organism, physiological phenomena are increasingly being explained and understood at the biochemical, molecular and cellular level; what is now referred to as molecular and cellular physiology. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to introduce the study of human physiology at the molecular, cellular, tissue and organ structure level. It uses a systems-based approach to provide students with the knowledge of, and ability to explore, human physiology. Students will gain an understanding of how the major systems of the body function and will also examine the effects of diseases. Due to the fact that physiology is a broad subject with many different areas of specialisation, this study-unit will provide a good grounding in physiology which opens the way to a wide variety of careers that need not be in the purely medical field. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the fundamental concepts of organ function and interaction of the major body systems; - Recognise and explain the principle of homeostasis; - Describe the use of feedback loops to control physiological systems in the human body; - Discuss the responses and adaptations of body systems to stress and the environment; and - Explain the relationship between pathogenic processes and altered physiological states. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Relate the structure of molecules, cells, tissues and organs to their physiological function; - Predict the features of anatomical structures; - Interpret graphs of physiological data; - Describe how complex homeostatic systems behave in managing other types of complex organisations; - Synthesise ideas to make a connection between knowledge of physiology and real-world situations; - Enhance skills in problem-solving. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Text: Silverthorn, D. U. Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach. 7th edition. Boston: Pearson Publishers. 2014. Supplementary Reading: Hall J. U. Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology. 13th edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier Publishers. 2016. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Cynthia Sammut Neville Vassallo (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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