SLE221 - Systems Physiology

Unit details

Year:

2024 unit information

Enrolment modes:Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Previously coded as:SBB221
Unit Chair:Trimester 2: Jan West
Prerequisite:

One of SLE111, HBS109 or SLE132

Corequisite:

SLE010

Incompatible with: SBB233, SBB348
Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment:

3 x 1 hour online lectures per week (weeks 1-5, weeks 7-11), 2 x 1 hour online lectures (week 6), 1 x 1 hour lecture (week 6), 6 x 3 hours practical experience (laboratory) per trimester.

Content

Physiology is a subfield of biology that focuses on the study of human body function, including how major processes work together at the cellular and molecular level to maintain homeostasis. Systems physiology involves learning about the organs within the various systems of the body.  Although the primary focus of systems physiology is on function, frequent references are made to the anatomy of individual organs, which is important for understanding the function of the individual structures.

This unit will explore how organ systems, organs, cells and bio-molecules carryout specific functions in the human system. It will also focus on the structure and function of blood; the cardiovascular and respiratory systems; the processes involved in excretion of wastes from the body; the significance and maintenance of acid-base and fluid balance. Students will learn how individual systems work and in synchrony with each other e.g. the neural control of cardiovascular response to maintain heart rate and blood pressure. This is of particular importance when discussing disturbances that occur in normal function as a result of a physiological challenge or in disease states.

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1

Identify the structure and function of several of the major systems within the human body.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO2

Study the interactions of each of the body systems and determine how they function to maintain homeostasis.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

ULO3

Establish how homeostasis can be disrupted in disease states and during physiological challenges and probe the consequences of those changes to normal body functioning.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving

ULO4

Apply physiological knowledge and skills to interpret, measure and understand physiological parameters and mechanisms that work to keep the human body functioning.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week

Assessment 1
Class test

In-class multiple choice test 25% Week 6

Assessment 2
Practical test

90-minute in-class test 35% Week 11

Assessment 3
Practical discussions

Discussion after each practical 10% After each practical session
End-of-Unit Assessment  Timed online test 30% End-of-Unit Assessment Period

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

Prescribed text(s): Sherwood, 2016, Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems, 9th edition, Cengage Learning.

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: SLE221 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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