Human Physiology - S.E.

P 2023

Co-Instructors:

Sherry Adams, Ph.D.

Office: Virtual
E-Mail: [email protected]
Class: Mon/Wed 9:45-11:45 a.m., Friday 10:15-12:00 p.m.
Office Hours: Monday 12:00-1:00 p.m. and scheduled appointments

James Horng, BS
Office: Virtual or in-person by appointment
Email: [email protected]
Class: Mon/Wed 9:45-11:45 a.m., Friday 10:15-12:00 p.m.
Office Hours: Wednesday 12:00-1:00 p.m. and scheduled appointments
If I am teaching on Wednesday, office hours will be in person. Otherwise, office hours will be
virtual on zoom (Zoom ID: 996 9251 1471)

Program Assistant:

Manal Ahmidouch, BS
E-Mail: [email protected]

Course description:

“Physiology”, as a scientific discipline, is the study of how living organisms function. Human
physiology is often considered the basis of all other medical disciplines. Human physiology is extremely
broad and ranges from the study of the function of individual molecules to explorations of the
interactions between multiple organ systems. In this course, you will discover that modern human
physiology integrates concepts from a variety of other disciplines including anatomy, biochemistry,
histology, neuroscience, psychology, pharmacology, nutrition, microbiology, and cell biology.

This course provides an overview of the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Topics
include body organization; homeostasis; cytology; chemistry; nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular,
respiratory, and renal systems. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an in-depth
understanding of principles of anatomy and physiology and their interrelationships.

The goal of this course is to learn basic principles of physiology with a special emphasis on
understanding topics that may be particularly difficult. This course will provide you with a foundation for
understanding function of the human body. “Understanding” is the key to success in this course. While
you will certainly have to learn (memorize if necessary) a variety of facts, never lose sight of the
concepts!

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

 1. Discuss and apply knowledge of the normal physiological functions and relate them to health
and disease.

2. Recognize and be able to explain the basic concepts and principles that govern the function of
each biological topic and their integration to maintain body homeostasis.

3. Acquire use of basic science and medical terminology permitting exchange of information
with professionals in medical science.

Learning objectives for each lecture are listed at the beginning of the lecture. Students are responsible
for the content of the pre-lecture reading, clinical case studies, dissections, and lecture notes.

Course Structure:

A variety of instructional methods will be used to enhance your learning experiences. These include pre-
lecture reading, videos, review questions, and dissections. These materials should help prepare you for
the following day’s lecture material. In addition, coordinated lecture notes and clinical case studies are
provided to guide individual learning following lectures and for use in SI sessions.

In class, students will be in grouped in small groups of 5-6 to engage in in-class questions and activities.
We encourage the students in these groups to get to know one another and to exchange contact
information. Part of the final grade will be based on one’s engagement in these small groups and class
activities.

SI sessions provide an opportunity for students to review covered material and discuss specific concepts
that may be difficult. We encourage students to attend SI sessions in addition to office hours to further
their understanding on the topics presented in class.

Student Group Presentation:

The goal of the student group presentation is for the students to have an opportunity to practice
presentation skills while also allowing them to gain knowledge in clinical cases. Students will be divided
into groups where they will prepare an informational video on a case study of their choice. Case studies
can either be based on podcasts about case reports presented by Chubbyemu or case studies found on
medical databases. Students must create vignettes and present the case study in class on their assigned
day. Presentations will be expected to last at least 10 minutes and will be worth 15% of your grade.
Presentation times will be dependent on the topic chosen. More details will be presented in class.

Problem Sets and Case Studies:

Homework in this class will be given in the form of case studies and problem sets. There will be a total of
5 problem sets and 4 case studies. Problem sets are designed to test your understanding on the content
presented in class through the use of short scenarios and/or recall questions. Case studies are designed
to further your understanding of the topic by looking at a specific case where pathology has occurred
and the “normal” function is no longer present. These assignments will each compose of 10% of your
final grade and will have separate due dates dictated below.

Pre-Test and Final Exam:

A pretest will be given during orientation. This pre-class exam will be scored, but will not count towards
your final grade. A cumulative final exam will be given at the end of the class. The post-test cannot be
made up and it will be a part of your final grade.

Course Policies:

Lecture Exams: There will be two (2) lecture exams. You are allowed to make up one missed exam.
Makeup examinations will only be given for excused absences when the student has contacted the
instructor prior to the examination. Written verification for the reason the exam is missed may be
required. Makeup examinations will be given during recitation and may be different than the original
exam.

Grade Breakdown:

Percentage of Grade
Exam 1 18%
Exam 2 18%
Final Exam 25%
In-Class Attendance and Participation 4%
Presentation 15%
Clinical Cases 10%
Problem Sets 10%
Total 100%

Letter grades will be assigned at the end of the course:

90-100% A
80-89.9% B
70-79.9% C
60-69.9% D
Below 60% F

Attendance:

You are expected to be present for all classes, if at all possible. Even if you are absent, you are
responsible for all material present, all assignments provided, and all announcements made. If you miss
an in-class graded activity, that activity and its grade cannot be made up unless it is an excused absence.
Please be proactive about absences if at all possible. Letting us know in advance will make it easier for
everyone to stay on track.

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of classes. During the program you may be shadowing medical
professionals. Please let me know in advance if you will miss class.

Academic honesty and the UNC Honor Code:

General Responsibilities (copied from http://instrument.unc.edu/) It shall be the responsibility of every
student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to:

1. Obey and support the enforcement of the Honor Code;

2. Refrain from lying, cheating, or stealing;

3. Conduct themselves so as not to impair significantly the welfare or the educational

opportunities of others in the University community; and

4. Refrain from conduct that impairs or may impair the capacity of University and associated
personnel to perform their duties, manage resources, protect the safety and welfare of
members of the University community, and maintain the integrity of the University.

Expectations in the Classroom:

Professional behavior is expected in the classroom. We expect that all students will:

 attend all lectures

 arrive on time
 come prepared, having completed all required assignments
 participate as appropriate

Examination policies:

No notes, books, calculators, computers, cell phones, or other aids may be consulted or used during any
examination (in-class or final). Talking, passing notes, and any other attempts to obtain or share
information are not allowed.

For other graded assignments, the “rules” will be announced.

Expectations of knowledge base:

While it is impossible to define all prerequisite knowledge, the following are general expectations. If you
feel you need review of these areas, some links to internet resources are available in your outlines and
on Sakai.

Chemistry: common elements and their symbols, properties of water, ions, polar vs. nonpolar
substances, hydrophilic vs. hydrophobic substances, different ways to express concentration of a
substance in solution including molarity and percent.

Mathematics: ability to solve equations including those with base 10 logs.

Biology: general cell structure, organelles, their roles in cellular function, major macromolecules
(carbohydrates, fats, proteins, nucleic acids) and their constituents and the basics of their synthesis,
basics of cellular metabolism and production of ATP.
 Summer 2023 Schedule - subject to modifications as needed

Date Day Time Topic

May 25 Thursday 8:00-9:30 Human Physiology Pre-Test
L1: Class Introduction, Homeostasis, Cellular Form and
May 31 Wednesday 9:45-11:45
Function
June 2 Friday 10:15-12:00 L2: Immunology – Pathogens and Immune Response
June 5 Monday 9:45-11:45 L3: Nervous System 1 – Neurophysiology
June 7 Wednesday 9:45-11:45 L4: Nervous System 2 – Brain and Cranial Nerves
June 9 Friday 10:15-12:00 L5: Nervous System 3 – Autonomic Nervous System
L6: Musculoskeletal System 1 – Muscle Tissue and
June 12 Monday 9:45-11:45
Skeleton Overview
June 14 Wednesday 9:45-11-45 Exam 1 on material from L1 – L6
June 16 Friday 10:15-12:00 NO CLASS – FIELD TRIP
June 19 Monday 9:45-11:45 NO CLASS - HOLIDAY
June 21 Wednesday 9:45-11:45 L7 – Cardiovascular System 1 - Hemodynamics
June 23 Friday 10:15-12:00 L8 – Cardiovascular System 2 – The Heart
L9 – Cardiovascular System 3 – Cardiac Cycle and
June 26 Monday 9:45-11:45
Cardiac Output
L10 – Respiratory System – Physics of Breathing and pH
June 28 Wednesday 9:45-11:45
regulation
June 30 Friday 10:15-12:00 L11 – Review Day
July 3 Monday 9:45-11:45 Exam 2 on material from L1 – L12
July 5 Wednesday 9:45-11:45 L12 – Renal System 1 – Renal Physiology
L13 – Renal System 2 – Physiology cont. and pH
July 7 Friday 10:15-12:00
regulation
L14: Endocrine System – Basics on Endocrine
July 10 Monday 9:45-11:45
Physiology and Pathology
July 12 Wednesday 9:45-11:45 L15 – Renal System 3 – Extra Day
July 14 Friday 10:15-12:00 Physiology Cumulative Final Exam (L1 - L15)
July 21 Friday 8:00-12:00 Graduation

Summer 2023 S.E.P – Important Dates

 Date Day Time Topic
May 25 Thursday 8:00-9:30
May 31 Wednesday 9:45-11:45
June 2 Friday 10:15-12:00
June 5 Monday 9:45-11:45 Problem Set 1 (Immune System) Due
June 7 Wednesday 9:45-11:45
June 9 Friday 10:15-12:00
June 12 Monday 9:45-11:45 Presentation: Immune System
Exam 1 on material from L1 – L6
June 14 Wednesday 9:45-11-45 Problem Set 2 (Nervous and Musculoskeletal System) Due
Case Study 1 Due (Nervous System)
June 16 Friday 10:15-12:00 NO CLASS – FIELD TRIP
June 19 Monday 9:45-11:45 NO CLASS - HOLIDAY
June 21 Wednesday 9:45-11:45
June 23 Friday 10:15-12:00 Presentation: Nervous System
June 26 Monday 9:45-11:45
June 28 Wednesday 9:45-11:45
Presentation: Cardiovascular System
June 30 Friday 10:15-12:00
Problem Set 3 (Cardiovascular and Respiratory System) Due
Exam 2 on material from L1 – L12
July 3 Monday 9:45-11:45
Case Study 2 Due (Cardiovascular)
July 5 Wednesday 9:45-11:45 Presentation: Respiratory System
July 7 Friday 10:15-12:00
July 10 Monday 9:45-11:45 Presentation: Gastrointestinal System
July 12 Wednesday 9:45-11:45 Problem Set 4 (Renal System) Due
July 14 Friday 10:15-12:00 Physiology Cumulative Final Exam (L12 - L15)
July 21 Friday 8:00-12:00 Graduation