Coordinator: Dr Alan Tilbrook (Department of Physiology)
Physiology
is the study of the way in which the body functions normally, and in
dysfunction and disease. It is the core discipline of the biomedical, medical
and life sciences.
Units are offered at levels two and three. The introductory level-two
first-semester units 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 unit PHY2032 (Physiology of human health) and the
level-three first-semester units PHY3041 (Advanced physiology: control of
physiological functions) and PHY3051 (Advanced physiology: regulation and
integration of body systems) describe the integrated function of the body
systems introduced in PHY2011 and PHY2021 during complex activities such as
exercise, reproduction and growth, digestion and nutrition, and hormonal
control of the body.
In the second semester of level-three studies, students are able to choose
among six half-semester units specialising in particular aspects of integrative
physiology, subject to sufficient enrolment numbers: PHY3062, PHY3032 and
PHY3052 are taught in weeks 1 to 6 and PHY3012, PHY3072 and PHY3082 in weeks 7
to 12. These advanced units 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. Students
will normally take two units (one from each block), however it is possible to
take up to four units in total (being a full-semester load of 24 points). In
these units greater emphasis will be placed on encouraging students to
undertake self-assisted learning, while practicals will be oriented towards
project-based learning.
In all units, emphasis will be on human body function. There will be study of
both normal function as well as of common examples of adaptation to abnormal
environments (eg high altitude) and of dysfunction (eg heart disease,
infertility, ageing) as appropriate to the unit 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 level-two units. For level-three units,
students must have passed any two of PHY2011, PHY2021 and PHY2032.
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