HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY

          BIOLOGY- 242

          Summer 2010

 

Instructor:  Professor Barbara Van Sciver

Office: 212  Morrill Hall

E-mail- bvansciver@verizon.net

Web site- bvansciver.com

 

 

Required Text: Stanfield and Germann. Principles Human Physiology: Pearson Education Inc, San Francisco, CA, Third Edition, 2009.

 

 

Course Description

 

Welcome to Biology 242-Human Physiology.  This course provides the fundamental concepts of physiology, focusing on the mechanisms of human body functions.  A major theme of this course is the concept of homeostasis, the fact that the different components of the body are dependent on the others and that each contributes to the overall survival of the body.

 

 

Course Objectives

 

The intention of this course is to provide the student with the knowledge and the understanding of the organization, function, and coordination of the human body from cells, to tissues, to organs, to body systems, to the overall organism.   The course discusses the cell as the basic unit of life. As stated above the concept of homeostasis, how the body maintains a relatively stable internal environment, is emphasized.   Each body system, and its contribution to homeostasis, is discussed.

Outlines of each lecture will be provided.

 

GRADING:   

 

The grading system used is entirely performance based.  As in so many endeavors, the amount of time and effort that one puts in to any given pursuit directly effects the outcome.  This definitely holds true for this course. It does require a commitment of both time and effort. Students are expected to attend the lectures, students that miss any lectures will end up being at a disadvantage.

 

Students are encouraged to recopy their notes using the outlines and the text as guidelines.  This is a good first step in understanding and studying the material.

 

There will be lecture exams and a final exam.  These will be based on the lectures and on reading assignments. The final exam will be approximately 25% cumulative and 75% based on the last lecture.  The final grade will be an average of all the exams.

 

Assignment of grades is as follows:

%                Letter grade

94-100        A

90-93          A-

87-89          B+

83-86          B

80-82          B-

77-79          C+

73-76          C

70-72          C-

67-69          D+

60-66          D

Below 60    F

 

The exams will be in multiple choice and true/false format.

There is no extra credit available in this course.

 

Make-up policy:

 

A student may take a make-up exam provided there is a valid, university approved excuse. (e.g. death in the family, illness with doctor’s note, etc..)  See the University manual for a complete list.

The student needs to contact my promptly so a time and a place can be arranged.

Make-up exams will be in an essay format.

 

 

Honesty:

 

Cheating will not be tolerated.  URI’s regulations regarding cheating will upheld.  The consequences for cheating range up to the students expulsion from URI.  That expulsion will be noted on the student’s record, permanently.  That is forever, so do not cheat!!!

Students are expected to be honest in all academic work. A student's name on any written work shall be regarded as assurance that the work is the result of the student's own thought and study. Work should be stated in the student's own words, properly attributed to its source.   Students have an obligation to know how to quote, paraphrase, summarize, or reference the work of others with integrity. The following are examples of academic dishonesty.

o Using material from published sources (print or electronic) without appropriate citation
o Claiming disproportionate credit for work not done independently
o Unauthorized possession or access to exams
o Unauthorized communication during exams
o Unauthorized use of another's work or preparing work for another student
o Taking an exam for another student
o Altering or attempting to alter grades
o The use of notes or electronic devices to gain an unauthorized advantage during exams
o Fabricating or falsifying facts, data or references
o Facilitating or aiding another's academic dishonesty
o Submitting the same paper for more than one course without prior approval from the instructors.

 

In Class:

 

Rudeness will not be tolerated.  This includes talking during lecture, this would be a distraction to me as well as other students, it is not acceptable. 

Students who exhibit this behavior will be asked to leave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Students with Disabilities:

 

Please contact me early in the semester if you have a documented disability.  We can work out reasonable accommodations to support your success in this course.  Students should also contact Disability Services for Students, Office of Student Life, 330 Memorial Union, 874-2098.





Academic Enhancement Center:

 

This is a challenging course.  Success requires that you keep pace with the work, understand course concepts, and study effectively.  The Academic Enhancement Center (www.uri.edu/aec) is a great place to do this.  At the AEC you can work alone or in groups, and tutors and professional learning specialists are available to help you to learn, manage your time and work, and study well.  They're open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fridays until 1 p.m.  All services are free (the coffee is free as well!), and no appointment is needed. You can call them for complete information at 874-2367, or just stop by the center on the fourth floor of Roosevelt Hall. 


Some Suggestions:

My advice to students is to not get behind in the class.  There is a great deal of material, it is very important to set good study habits from the outset.  I think it is helpful to copy the notes over using the outlines provided as well as the text. Do not try to memorize the material without first understanding it.

 

Please feel free to ask questions in class, or see me in my office.

 

I hope this will be an enlightening as well as an education experience for you all!!


Illness Due to Flu  
The H1N1 Flu Pandemic may impact classes this semester. If any of us develop flu-like symptoms, we are being advised to stay home until the fever has subsided for 24 hours.  So, if you exhibit such symptoms, please do not come to class. Notify me at 874-xxxx or xxx@uri.edu of your status, and we will communicate through the medium we have established for the class. We will work together to ensure that course instruction and work is completed for the semester.
 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have posted simple methods to avoid transmission of illness. These include:  covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing; frequently washing your hands to protect from germs; avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth; and staying home when you are sick. For more information, please view www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm <http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm> .  URI information on the H1N1 will be posted on the URI website at www.uri.edu/news/h1n1.html and  <http://www.uri.edu/news/h1n1> , with links to the www.cdc.gov <http://www.cdc.gov> site.

 

 

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY-

Tentative Reading Schedule                                                             summer 2010

(Throughout the course also see pages xxxiii-xxxiv for additional topic pages)                         

 

                                    Topic                                                              Pages

            Introduction to physiology and Homeostasis                         2-19

                                   

            Chemistry review                                                                    21-31, 25, 35, 37, 63, 67-73, 71, 559                                                 

                                   

            Cell physiology                                                                       38-46, 116- 122

           

            Plasma membrane and membrane potential                            32-36, 95-123, 126-135

                                   

            Nerve cells and electrical signaling                                         166-194

           

            Synaptic transmission and neural integration                         196-213

           

            The CNS                                                                                 215-250

                                   

            The PNS                                                                                  203-239, 302-321

 

            Muscle Physiology                                                                  322-358

           

            Cardiac Physiology                                                                 360-393

                                                                                                                       

            Blood vessels and blood pressure                                           395-434

                                   

            Blood                                                                                      436-451

                                   

            The respiratory system                                                            453-507

                                   

            The digestive system                                                               669-502

           

            The urinary system                                                                  536-567

                                   

            Fluid/ acid-base balance                                                          TBA

                                   

            The endocrine System                                                             605-628                                  

           

            The Immune system                                                                667-693                      

 

            Energy balance and Temperature regulation                           TBA

                                                           

            Protein synthesis                                                                     46-52

           

            Reproductive system                                                              630-664

 

           

 

Kingston

Tentative exam dates:           Exam 1- Feb. 18                                           

                                                Exam 2-March 11

                                                Exam 3- April 13

                                                Final-See URI final exam schedule 

 

Providence

Tentative exam dates:           Exam 1-Feb. 22

                                                Exam 2-March 15

                                                Exam 3- April 12

                                                Final-See URI final exam schedule