BMS2031

Body systems

6 points · 3 lectures per week and 3 hours practical or equivalent · First semester · Clayton

Objectives At the completion of this subject the student will have a basic understanding of the control of a number of important bodily functions, including how we move, how we extract nutrients from, and deliver waste products to, the environment. They will also understand how we control the delivery of nutrients to various parts of the body and how we respond to changes in our physical environment. This will be achieved by a consideration of the organisation and workings of muscles, the respiratory, gastrointestinal and renal systems, and the cardiovascular and endocrine systems. In addition to considering each of these systems in isolation, students will also gain an understanding of the links between individual systems in order to appreciate how the body makes an integrated response to changes in its physical and social environment. Students will understand the pivotal role of the central nervous system in coordinating this integration. On completion of this subject, students will be familiar with the necessary core information to undertake advanced studies in physiology.

Synopsis This subject provides the framework for an understanding of the functioning of whole organ systems and the whole body, as distinct from the functioning of individual cells acquired in first year of the degree. This subject will build upon the knowledge gained in the 1st year of the course, but most especially on the material presented in BMS1011 (Biomedical chemistry), BMS1021 (Cells, tissues and organisms), BMS1031 (Medical biophysics) and BMS1052 (Human neurobiology). In addition, there will be a coordinated approach between BMS2031 (Body systems) and the other first-semester, second-year subjects BMS2011 (Structure of the human body) and BMS2021 (Biochemistry in human function). The specific topics to be covered include the function of muscles, and gastrointestinal, renal, cardiovascular, respiratory and endocrine systems. The subject will be presented via the involvement of students in lectures, practical sessions, problem solving sessions and correlation sessions, where human and animal adaptations to environmental and disease challenges will be discussed.

Assessment Examination: 50% · Practical reports and presentations: 20% · Essay 20% · Mid-semester test 10%

Prescribed texts

Marieb E Human anatomy and physiology Addison-Wesley Longman, 4th edn, 1996

Back to the 1999 Medicine Handbook