88 lectures, 12 tutorials and 75 hours of practical work
The major aim of the subject is to provide students with a knowledge of mammalian physiology as a basis for understanding how physiological processes are altered by disease states or affected by drugs. This knowledge is mandatory for understanding pharmacology and pathology taught in later years.
General objectives
In this teaching program students are expected to develop:
understanding of basic cellular anatomy and biochemistry, and how these processes are utilised in cells with specialised functions; cellular reproduction and genetics; chromosomal abnormalities leading to genetically based human diseases; properties of cell membranes including transport of substances into and out of cells and the transmission of electrical impulses along nerve cells; structure and function of smooth, skeletal and cardiac muscle; chemical transmission between nerve cells and from nerve cells to effectors (glands or muscle); the physiology of sense organs, blood and other body fluids, the liver and body systems;
abilities in the areas of the observation and measurement of physiological processes; the assessment and integration of physiological information;
an appreciation of the integrated functioning of physiological systems; the pathophysiological changes arising from defects in normal physiological functions; the potential sites of action and mechanisms by which therapeutic agents can affect normal and abnormal physiological function.
Syllabus
n Basic cell physiology
An introduction to cellular biochemistry and metabolism. Constituents of cells, proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, enzymes and enzyme inhibition. Bioenergetics, concept of free energy change, exergonic and endergonic reactions, ATP, energy-rich and energy-poor bonds, biological oxidations and oxidative phosphorylation, photosynthesis. Aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis, citric acid cycle. Macro and micro nutrients.
Cellular structure. General structure and functioning of cells, cytoplasm, lysosomes, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, ribosomes, centrosomes, nucleus. Functional and structural specialisation in cells.
Cellular reproduction and genetics. Genetics, Mendel's work, laws of independent segregation and random assortment of allelic pairs. Chromosome replication and division, mitosis and meiosis. Linkage and crossing over, chromosome maps. Sex determination and x (sex) linkage. Multigenic and non-Mendelian inheritance. Mutations and chromosomal abnormalities. Genetic variability. Pharmacogenetics. Genetically-based human diseases. Genetic counselling.
n Cellular functions
Membranes. Osmotic behaviour of cells, diffusion, the Gibbs-Donnan equilibrium, active transport. The electrical properties of cell membranes, resting and action potentials, the Nernst equation. Propagation of action potentials in myelinated and non-myelinated fibres, refractory period and after-potentials. Effects of anodal and cathodal polarisation and of inorganic ions on membranes. Physiological salt solutions.
Synaptic transmission. Origin and transmission of nerve impulse. The generator potential. Axo-dendritic, axo-somatic and axo-axonal synapses. Excitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic potentials, presynaptic inhibition. Neuronal pools. Neuroeffector junctions. Humoral transmission. Facilitation and blockade. Characterisation of transmitters. The autonomic nervous system, an introduction.
Properties of muscle. Physiology of skeletal muscle, contractile and elastic components, isotonic and isometric contractions, twitch and tetanus. Ultra-structure of muscle and sliding filament theory. Focally and multiply-innervated fibres. Structure and properties of cardiac muscle and its conducting system. Electrical activity of cardiac muscle membranes, the ECG. Smooth muscle, structure, location and function. Multi-unit and single-unit muscle. Vascular smooth muscle. Electrical activity of smooth muscle membranes.
Calcium. Sources, functions and control mechanisms in skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle.
n General physiology
Nervous system. General organisation of the nervous system. Development of major structures of vertebrate brain. Autonomic and somatic nervous system. Organisation of spinal cord and simple reflex arcs. Receptors and receptor organs. Nerve generation and regeneration.
Endocrine function. Introduction to the hormonal system, functions of hormones, their release and their role in homeostasis.
Skeleton and skeletal muscle. General structures and function. Joints. Movement.
Circulation. Basic mammalian circulatory system. Heart. Vasculature. Cardiovascular mechanics and control of circulation.
Respiration. Structure and function of the respiratory system. Gaseous exchange and transport. Respiratory pigments. Control of respiration. Effects of change of environment.
Feeding, digestion and absorption. The gastrointestinal tract, its development, function, hormonal and nervous control. Absorption.
Liver. Structure and functions; storage, synthesis, metabolism and excretion, the biliary system.
Excretion. General patterns and organs involved. Structure and function of the vertebrate kidney.
Temperature regulation. Poikilotherms, heterotherms and homiotherms. Control mechanisms, temperature receptors, sweat glands, vascular changes.
Special senses. Structure and function of organs concerned in sight, hearing and balance. Chemoreception.
Reproduction and early embryological development. Asexual and sexual reproduction. Oestrus and menstrual cycles and their hormonal control. Fertilisation, implantation and initial developmental stages. Embryology. Teratology. Formation and physiology of the placenta. Pregnancy, parturition, lactation. Contraception, infertility.
Blood and body fluids. Plasma, formed elements. Anaemias. Clotting mechanism and anticoagulants. The fibrinolytic system. Cerebro-spinal fluid. Extra-cellular fluid and lymph.
Practical
Twenty-six 3-hour practical sessions designed to illustrate aspects of the syllabus
Practical classes are designed to provide experience in the logical approach and skills required to gain physiological information by observation and experimentation. Students must provide themselves with dissecting instruments.
Textbooks
Recommended texts
Dorland's pocket medical dictionary 24th edn, Saunders, 1989
MacKenna B R and Callander R Illustrated physiology 5th edn, Churchill Livingstone, 1990
Moffett D F and others Human physiology: Foundations and frontiers 2nd edn, Times Mirror Mosby, 1993
Vander A J and others Human physiology 6th edn, McGraw-Hill, 1994
Victorian College of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical pharmacology I laboratory manual VCP, 1995
Reference books
Alberts B and others Molecular biology of the cell 3rd edn, Garland, 1994
Burkitt H G and others Wheater's `Functional histology `3rd edn, Churchill Livingstone, 1992
Emery A E H and Mueller R F Elements of medical genetics 8th edn, Churchill Livingstone, 1992
Ganong W F Review of medical physiology 16th edn, Appleton and Lange, 1993
Assessment
Subject assessment will reflect the learning objectives outlined above. Methods of assessment will include:
Progress examination (May) (1.5 hours): 10%
Practical work and ongoing assessment: 20%
End-of-year examination (3 hours): 70%