Physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of life. It is the branch of biology that aims to understand the mechanisms of living things, from the basis of cell function at the ionic and molecular level to the integrated behavior of the whole body and the influence of the external environment. Research in physiology helps us to understand how the body works in health and how it responds and adapts to the challenges of everyday life; it also helps us to determine what goes wrong in disease, facilitating the development of new treatments and guidelines for maintaining human and animal health. The emphasis on integrating molecular, cellular, systems and whole body function is what distinguishes physiology from the other life sciences.
See "Biological Sciences" for information on programs.
This course emphasizes principles of cellular and systemic functions of the human body. Lecture topics include scientific method, basic inorganic and organic chemistry, solute as well as water transport and balance, homeostatic mechanisms, and functions of the major organ systems. This course emphasizes demonstrations and techniques of commonly utilized laboratory equipment. Laboratory topics will primarily consist of analysis, interpretation and evaluation of data gathered relating to homeostatic mechanisms, functions of the major organ systems and disease. Experiments reinforce material presented in lecture.