BIOL310 syllabus

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY - BIOL 310

Summer 2005 Assignment Schedule

TEXTBOOK: Silverthorn (2004) Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach, Pearson Education, Inc, ISBN 0-8053-5957-5.

Catalog description: Human physiological systems and their relationship to human function for non-biology majors and students in physical education and health sciences. No credit for biological science major. (3 hours lecture)

This study of human physiology at three levels (cell, organ, and organism) will survey how the individual parts of the body machine perform their functions, how function is regulated, and how control mechanisms maintain homeostasis and coordinate processes. The course covers basic concepts that are often measured and described in physiology:

1. Structure/function relationships: molecular interactions, mechanical properties of cells, tissues, and organs, and properties of compartments

2. Equilibrium, energy, pressures, and flows

3. Homeostasis and control systems

4. Communication, coordination, and integration

Prerequisite: Bio 101 or equivalent is imperative! Students should review basic biology concepts thoroughly. While college chemistry is NOT a prerequisite, basic biology and a high school background in chemical reactions and pH concepts are used for some of the chemical concepts in physiology. Algebra skills and your ability to generate and interpret graphs will provide insight into various physiology concepts: In physiology, "the purpose of computing is insight, not numbers" (R. W. Hamming).

Acknowledgements: Some material used in this course comes from a variety of sources protected by copyright. All rights to use this material beyond this course are strictly reserved. Our gratitude goes to those who are willing to share resources for educational purposes. Special thanks to Harold Modell, Joyce Ono, Dee Unglaub Silverthorn, and Robert Stephenson.