Undergraduate courses and subjects 2000

Physiology

The discipline
Subjects offered

The discipline

Physiology is the study of the way in which the body functions normally, and in dysfunction and disease. As such, it is the core discipline of the biomedical, medical and life sciences.
Subjects are offered at second and third years. The introductory second-year first-semester subjects PHY2011 (Neuroscience of sensation, brain and movement) and PHY2021 (Body systems physiology) describe the function of the different body systems: the cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems and their function in maintaining body status; the senses, nerves and the brain and their function in providing and analysing information about the world; the muscles and their function in allowing responses to the world.
The second-semester subject PHY2032 (Physiology of human health) and the third-year subjects PHY3011 (Human physiology: control and integration) and PHY3022 (Frontiers of human physiology) describe the integrated function of these different systems during complex activities such as exercise, reproduction and growth, digestion and nutrition, and hormonal control of the body. In the final semester of third year, students are able to choose among six half-semester units specialising in particular aspects of integrative physiology. These advanced subjects explore the frontiers of current physiological knowledge and research into normal and abnormal body function. They provide the basis for higher-level study in physiology at the honours or postgraduate level, within the department or its affiliated institutes, or for graduate and postgraduate study in many other biomedical and medical disciplines.
In all subjects, emphasis will be on human body function. There will be study of both normal function as well as of common examples of dysfunction (eg Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, infertility, ageing) as appropriate to the subject and level of study. The aim is to provide students with greater insight of body function and gain an understanding of the basis of many common dysfunctions.
There are no prerequisites for any second-year subjects. For third-year subjects, students must have successfully completed at a good level of competence any two of PHY2011, PHY2021 and PHY2032, and for PHY3022, the prerequisite is successful completion of PHY3011.

Subjects offered

· PHY2011 Neuroscience of sensation, brain and movement

This subject covers the nervous, intercellular signalling and skeletal muscles as being the detection, communication, analysis and action systems of the body. Subject material is divided into four themes elaborated in the core (basic physiology) lectures. The first theme, 'The world within', studies the structure and functions of cells and cell membranes, particularly in relation to nerves and their specialised properties, and the mechanisms employed for communication between cells. The second theme, 'Registering the world outside', examines how sensory systems detect stimuli in the senses of touch, hearing, vision, pain, smell and taste. The third theme, 'Analysing the world outside', examines the central nervous system and how sensory information is relayed and analysed in the brain. The final theme, 'Action responses to the world', details body responses through movement of the muscle and limbs. Study of the subject will be reinforced and enhanced by study of dysfunction or adaptations in these systems covered by this subject. This will allow the development of a greater understanding of the basic function of these systems as well as the gaining of an appreciation of the manifestations of dysfunction of these systems.

· PHY2021 Body systems physiology

The overall theme in this subject revolves round the maintenance of normal status and function ('homeostasis') in the body so as to maintain an optimal environment for cell function. The subject examines three major body systems, namely the respiratory, cardiovascular and renal systems, which are critically involved in maintaining homeostasis. The subject commences with study of the functions of the respiratory system in gas exchange. This leads to study of the function of the cardiovascular system in delivering appropriate blood flows, pressures and nutrients to the organs and tissues of the body, and the role of the autonomic nervous system in control of the cardiovascular system. Finally, the subject examines the role of the kidneys in maintaining body fluids composition function. In studying each of these body systems, attention will be focused on the function of these systems at rest and in a variety of active states and how this allows for optimal cell functioning at rest and in active states, and on control mechanisms operating in each system. Study of the subject will be reinforced and enhanced by study of dysfunction or adaptations of these systems. This will allow the development of a greater understanding of the basic function of these systems as well as the gaining of an appreciation of the manifestations of dysfunction of these systems.

· PHY2032 Physiology of human health

This subject covers four major complex functions of the human body, which involve many body systems acting in concert: exercise, digestion and nutrition, endocrine control of body function, and sex, growth and development. The subject material is divided into four blocks, each addressing one of the four functions listed. In each block, study consists of both the basic physiology involved in the function as well as the integrative physiology required for that function. The first block on exercise examines the way in which many body systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, muscular, nervous) function together in exercise, allowing performance while maintaining body function within tolerance limits. The second block, on digestion and nutrition, commences with study of the basic physiology of the digestive system and extends to study of nutrition and human health. The third block, on endocrine control of body function, examines the physiology of hormonal effects on many body systems, acting to coordinate and integrate body function over the long term in health, growth and disease. The final block, on sex, growth and development, commences with study of the basic physiology of the male and female reproductive systems and extends to a study of changes in many body systems in human growth and development.

· PHY3011 Human physiology: control and integration

This subject builds on the knowledge gained in the second-year subjects to allow advanced study of how different body systems in humans are controlled and integrated to allow for normal function during daily activities. In the first week, students will be introduced to the concept of 'homeostasis' and specific historic examples will be used to show how physiologists have integrated information to make major scientific and clinical advances. Then the subject presents study of control and integration within the human body. In the first part of the subject, on control and regulation, study commences firstly with concepts of fuel metabolism in various animal groups, before considering the endocrine regulation of energy metabolism, and the variations that occur during the human circadian rhythm. Then the topic of regulation of growth and development will explore the molecular and cellular interactions occurring from the earliest stages of embryonic development through to early post-natal development and the consequences of metabolic errors on growth and development. Finally, the regulation of growth and ageing, particularly regulation at the molecular level, will be considered. The second part of the subject, on integration in body function, begins with an investigation of the physiological processes that balance intake and output of water, salt and potential acids and bases. This will serve to reveal the complex relationships necessary to maintain a stable internal environment. Next we consider cardiovascular function and the integrated regulation of the heart and the circulation by intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms, specifically the nervous and endocrine systems. Finally, our current understanding of the integrative role of the respiratory system during the total life span will also be explained, including the response of this system to the special challenges imposed during sleep, diving and at high altitudes.

· PHY3022 Frontiers of human physiology

This subject is designed to provide students with an introduction to some current areas of research in physiology at Monash, both within the Department of Physiology and in affiliated institutions. Students will choose to study and undertake project work in two of six specialised areas (units) of physiology. Each unit has a duration of six weeks (half-semester units). In the first half-semester, units offered are: The body in balance: the nervous system and internal harmony; Clinical and experimental cardiovascular physiology; and Sex, reproduction and society. In the second half-semester, units offered are: Sensation and movement; Muscle and excercise; and Developmental physiology. The body in balance unit explores the role of the nervous system in maintaining internal harmony in the body, and in coordinating appropriate responses to alterations in the external conditions which would otherwise disturb the body's homeostasis. Clinical and experimental cardiovascular physiology extends the material presented in first semester of third year on the factors that maintain normal cardiovascular function, including the nervous system, hormonal factors, metabolic factors and kidney function. The subject considers how these factors can be studied experimentally to understand the major clinical dysfunctions prevalent today. Sex, reproduction and society builds on second-year material with a detailed study of reproduction (hormonal control, sexual differentiation and development, ovarian and menstrual cycles, fertilisation, embryonic development and loss, pregnancy and parturition). It then extends to consider environmental influences on reproduction, new reproductive technologies and population control. Sensation and movement builds on the outline of neurosciences presented at second year to discuss brain function in sensation and movement in humans. The emphasis will be on the way the brain functions normally to analyse sensory information and to evoke movement, and how brain damage leads to clinical dysfunction of sensation or movement. Muscle and exercise commences with detailed study of muscle activity (muscle energy supply and consumption, metabolism, and muscle fatigue). It then extends to study various aspects of human muscle performance, including cardio-respiratory responses to physical activity, and the responses of endocrine and renal systems. Developmental physiology studies the physiology of the mother in pregnancy and the physiological development of the fetus from embryo to maturity at term that allows it to achieve the structural and functional maturity necessary for survival at birth and in infancy. The fetal development of the major body systems and the effects of stress on the fetus will be considered.
Within each unit of the subject, the study of dysfunction, disease states and adaptation will be considered. Overall, in this subject greater emphasis will be placed on encouraging students to undertake self-assisted learning, while practicals will be oriented towards project based learning.